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NHL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Thursday, October 1

Leon Draisaitl Posts Three Points in Oilers' Win

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Leon Draisaitl delivered a stellar three-point performance, scoring twice on five shots and adding an assist in the Edmonton Oilers' high-scoring 9-7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. One of Draisaitl's goals came on the power play while skating alongside Connor McDavid on a top-heavy, injury-riddled Oilers line. The 30-year-old star has pushed his early-season total to four points and 10 shots through two contests as Edmonton's offense fires on all cylinders.

Eetu Luostarinen Scores Twice in Panthers' OT Loss

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Eetu Luostarinen scored two goals, including one on the power play, during the Florida Panthers' 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. Luostarinen provided the Panthers' first two tallies of the contest. Operating primarily on the third line, the 28-year-old forward has accumulated four shots on net and four hits through two games, and could see elevated power-play opportunities depending on the severity of Aleksander Barkov's leg injury.

Macklin Celebrini Leads Sharks With Three Assists in Opener

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Young captain Macklin Celebrini led the San Jose Sharks in their 4-3 overtime win over the Florida Panthers by logging three assists and seven shots on goal. Celebrini tallied one helper on the power play and another shorthanded, contributing to both of Will Smith's goals before assisting on Luca Cagnoni's overtime winner. Poised for expanded responsibility, the superstar is developing into an all-around force after posting 115 points last season.

Will Smith Shines with Three Points in Sharks' Overtime Win

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Will Smith put on a brilliant display with a three-point performance, scoring two goals—one on the power play and one shorthanded—along with an assist in a 4-3 overtime win over the Panthers. Teaming up with linemate Macklin Celebrini, the 21-year-old showcased strong chemistry right out of the gate. Coming off a 24-goal, 59-point campaign, Smith is expanding his role to include shorthanded minutes as he pushes toward a point-per-game pace this season.

Dougie Hamilton Sparks Devils' Comeback With Goal

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Dougie Hamilton became a focal point on opening night, enduring early boos from fans after a blue-line turnover before answering with a crucial second-period goal. Hamilton's tally ignited the New Jersey Devils' offense and kickstarted a 3-2 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran defenseman carries high expectations under his $9 million AAV contract, with the team relying heavily on his offensive production from the point all season.

Aleksander Barkov Awaits Friday Evaluation After Left Knee Injury

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Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left Thursday's game against San Jose in the second period with an apparent left knee injury after buckling during a board battle. Barkov, who appeared visibly upset exiting the ice, will receive a status update on Friday. The issue is unrelated to his previous right ACL and MCL injuries from last year, but the severity remains unknown pending further evaluation by the team.

Dylan Guenther Explodes for Two Power-Play Goals in Opener

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Dylan Guenther opened the 2026-27 season in stellar fashion by scoring two power-play goals on five shots in Utah's 6-0 rout of the Blackhawks. The 23-year-old winger is looking to build on a breakout 40-goal, 73-point regular-season campaign. After netting nine of his 24 man-advantage points on the power play last year, Guenther made an immediate impact in that specialty role while skating on Utah's second line at even strength.

Karel Vejmelka Posts 15-Save Shutout in Utah's Opening Win

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After being named Utah's Opening Night starter, Karel Vejmelka posted a 15-save shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Blackhawks. The 30-year-old goaltender, who went 38-20-3 with a 2.75 GAA and .896 save percentage last season, is expected to shoulder a heavy workload again. Utah has a back-to-back road trip coming up against Columbus and the Rangers, where Vejmelka and backup Sebastian Cossa are expected to split the contests.

Adam Fox Dishes Two Assists As New York Rangers Rout Tampa Bay

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New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox opened the 2026-27 campaign strong by recording two assists in a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Fox, who missed significant time last season while still maintaining a near point-per-game pace with 53 points in 55 games, is looking to re-enter the Norris Trophy conversation. His impressive performance highlights his elite playmaking abilities and elevated power-play production, signaling a potential massive bounce-back year.

Nikita Kucherov Closes In On Steven Stamkos' Franchise Point Record

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov scored a goal in a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday, bringing him closer to franchise history. Kucherov now has 1,125 career points in 880 games, putting him just behind Steven Stamkos' team record of 1,137 points in 1,082 games. Coming off a Hart Trophy season with 130 points, Kucherov is expected to eclipse Stamkos' milestone in the coming weeks after finding the back of the net against the Rangers.

Igor Shesterkin Makes History With Empty-Net Goal in 5-1 Win

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Igor Shesterkin became the first goaltender in New York Rangers history and the 18th in NHL history to score a goal, lofting the puck into an empty net at 17:26 of the third period in a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Shesterkin stopped 24 of 25 shots to earn his 100th career win at Madison Square Garden in 177 games, making him the fourth-fastest goalie in franchise history to reach the milestone. The performance rebounded from an Opening Night loss to Boston.

Jack Hughes Nets OT Winner and Reacts to Analyst Comment

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Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime off a pass from Jesper Bratt to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. During the game, Hughes responded to a TV analyst's comment about his injury history by calling it a 'weird joke,' dismissing remarks regarding his past shoulder surgery and finger cut. The 25-year-old pivot enters the season looking to stay healthy after averaging 74 points over recent injury-shortened campaigns.

Gustav Forsling Scratched Late Thursday with Upper-Body Injury

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Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling was a late scratch for Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks due to an upper-body injury. Forsling participated in pregame warmups despite not skating during Wednesday's practice, but was ultimately ruled out. Uvis Balinskis entered the lineup in his place. The blueliner is currently considered day-to-day until further updates are provided by the team.

Blake Coleman Scores Power-Play Goal in Wild Debut Victory

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Blake Coleman scored his first goal as a member of the Minnesota Wild in his team debut during Thursday's victory over the Nashville Predators. The 34-year-old winger, acquired from the Calgary Flames during the offseason, converted on a second-period power play off passes from Bobby Brink and Danila Yurov. Coleman became the 34th player in franchise history to score in his first game with Minnesota as he enters his 11th NHL season.

Victor Hedman Returns 'Energized' to Lightning Lineup After Personal Leave

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Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman made his return to the ice on Thursday, playing in his first NHL game since stepping away from the organization in March to address his mental health. The veteran defenseman appeared energized during his return to action following the extended hiatus. Hedman's comeback provides a major leadership boost for Tampa Bay after missing the final stretch of last season to prioritize his well-being.

Arvid Soderblom Expected to Start for Blackhawks Against Utah

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Arvid Soderblom is slated to make his season debut in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks on the road against Utah on Thursday. The start comes after Spencer Knight allowed four goals on 36 shots during Chicago's 5-2 season-opening loss to Vegas. While Knight is projected to handle the majority of the team's workload, the 27-year-old Soderblom is expected to make over 25 starts in 2026-27 after posting an 8-13-3 record, 3.80 GAA, and .880 save percentage across 26 appearances last season.

Simon Edvinsson Trains in Sweden as Unsigned RFA Ahead of Red Wings Opener

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Unsigned restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson has returned to Sweden to train with Frölunda of the SHL, ruling him out for the Detroit Red Wings' season opener against the New York Rangers. Despite reporting to training camp and participating in non-scrimmage drills, the 23-year-old defenseman remains without a contract as interim GM Shawn Horcoff negotiates. Reports suggest Detroit favors a bridge deal for the 2021 No. 6 draft pick, who posted nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season.

Joey Daccord Gets Nod to Start Season Opener for Seattle Kraken

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Joey Daccord will tend the goal for the Seattle Kraken in their season opener on Thursday against the Flames. Daccord looks to rebound from the 2025-26 campaign where he posted a 20-20-6 record, 3.03 GAA, and an .896 save percentage across 47 appearances. With Philipp Grubauer waiting in the wings, a slow start could potentially lead to an even time-share in the Kraken crease this season.

Luca Cagnoni Scores Historic Overtime Winner for Sharks

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Luca Cagnoni made franchise history by scoring his first career NHL goal in overtime, lifting the San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Cagnoni became the first player in Sharks history to net his first career goal in overtime. The 21-year-old defenseman, playing in just his tenth NHL game, called it the best goal of his life, sparking a raucous SAP Center crowd after San Jose had previously squandered a three-goal lead.

Tristan Luneau Inks Historic Six-Year, $43.2M Extension With Ducks

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The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Tristan Luneau to a six-year, $43.2 million contract extension through the 2032-33 season, marking the largest deal ever given to a player with just 14 games of NHL experience. The 22-year-old recorded 95 points in 135 AHL contests and is slated to begin the year on the Ducks' top pairing alongside Jackson LaCombe. GM Pat Verbeek highlighted Luneau as a core top-four defenseman for the franchise's present and future after securing the deal prior to opening night.