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NHL News

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

Thursday, October 1

Damon Severson Ruled Out Week-to-Week With Shoulder Injury

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Damon Severson has been placed on non-roster injured reserve with a shoulder injury and is considered week-to-week by head coach Rick Bowness. Severson had already been ruled out for the Blue Jackets' first two regular-season games, with the earliest possible return date being October 9 against Pittsburgh. Last season, the 32-year-old defenseman recorded eight goals, 24 assists, and 86 blocked shots while averaging 21:04 of ice time across 71 regular-season appearances.

Andrei Vasilevskiy Set to Start in Tampa Bay's Opening Night Matchup

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Andrei Vasilevskiy will defend the road crease in Thursday's Opening Night matchup against the New York Rangers. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is coming off an elite 2025-26 campaign where he compiled a 39-15-4 record, a 2.31 GAA, and a .911 save percentage across 58 regular-season outings. Bolstered by a defensive unit that added John Carlson, Vasilevskiy remains the top goaltender to roster in fantasy hockey to open the 2026-27 season against a Rangers squad shut out previously.

Ivan Provorov Sidelined Week-to-Week and Placed on Injured Reserve

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Ivan Provorov was placed on injured reserve by the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury and is considered week-to-week by head coach Rick Bowness. The 29-year-old defenseman will officially miss at least the first week of the regular season. Provorov had been an iron man, appearing in all 82 regular-season games in each of the last four years, and most recently averaged 24:49 of ice time while generating nine goals, 22 assists, and 134 blocked shots last season.

Matt Duchene Placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve by Dallas Stars

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The Dallas Stars placed Matt Duchene on long-term injured reserve retroactive to September 29 due to a lower-body injury. Duchene has been dealing with the issue since the start of training camp and recently experienced a setback that will sideline him until at least late October. The 35-year-old forward's absence prompted the team to recall Colin Blackwell and Arttu Hyry from AHL Texas to provide additional depth for the beginning of the regular season.

Nathan MacKinnon Scores Twice and Fights in Avalanche Opener Victory

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Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in a four-and-goal second period and capped his night with a rare fight against Brandt Clarke, leading the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. MacKinnon scored on a 5-on-3 power play just 23 seconds into the second period and added his second at 8:33. The stellar performance came hours after head coach Jared Bednar signed a four-year contract extension. Artturi Lehkonen also scored twice and Brock Nelson added a goal and two assists.

Hendrix Lapierre Scores in Second Period of Penguins Opening Win

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Hendrix Lapierre scored a second-period goal to help power the Pittsburgh Penguins to a resounding 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in their season opener. Skating on the third forward unit alongside Filip Hallander, Lapierre contributed to an offensive explosion that saw the Penguins score five goals on their first 18 shots against Dan Vladar. Evgeni Malkin and Filip Hallander also scored in the second period, while goaltender Arturs Silovs posted a 19-shot shutout.

Evgeni Malkin Nets Landmark Goal in Penguins 7-0 Blowout of Flyers

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Evgeni Malkin ripped a one-timer from the slot early in the second period for his 100th career point against the Philadelphia Flyers, helping lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-0 opening night rout. Malkin's goal marked the third of the game, coming during a dominant middle frame that also saw tallies from Hendrix Lapierre and Filip Hallander. Arturs Silovs stopped 19 shots for the shutout. Malkin returned on a one-year deal to anchor Pittsburgh's veteran core alongside Sidney Crosby.

Arturs Silovs Stops 19 Shots to Shut Out Flyers in Season Opener

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Arturs Silovs stopped all 19 shots he faced to secure the third shutout of his NHL career in a dominant 7-0 opening night victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old goaltender aims to cement his status as the top option in net ahead of rookie Sergei Murashov. Evgeni Malkin, Hendrix Lapierre, and Filip Hallander also scored in the second period, helping the Penguins steamroll Philadelphia and establishing strong streaming and fantasy value for Silovs to start the campaign.

Filip Hallander Shines with First Career Three-Point Game in Opener

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Filip Hallander recorded his first career multi-point outing with a goal, two assists, and a plus-four rating in a 7-0 opening night blowout over the Philadelphia Flyers. Playing on the third forward unit alongside Hendrix Lapierre, Hallander factored into the team's fourth, fifth, and sixth goals. Additionally, Evgeni Malkin, Hendrix Lapierre, and Filip Hallander scored in the second period, while Arturs Silovs stopped 19 shots to secure the dominant shutout victory.

Maxim Shabanov Set to Prove Preseason Value Alongside Kirill Kaprizov

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Maxim Shabanov is set to make his regular-season debut for the Minnesota Wild, earning an opportunity to play alongside Kirill Kaprizov after a strong training camp and preseason. Wild teammate Yakov Trenin sees a little bit of Kucherov in Shabanov, who expressed excitement about playing with Kaprizov and helping the team contend for a Stanley Cup. Head coach John Hynes noted Shabanov's continuous improvement throughout camp as he prepares for his first meaningful test against Nashville.

Jake Allen Gets Starting Nod For Thursday's Matchup Against The Flyers

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New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen will start between the pipes for Thursday's home game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Allen faces a Flyers squad playing the second night of a back-to-back. Last season, the veteran netminder posted a 17-17-2 record with a 2.74 GAA and one shutout across 37 appearances, eyeing his first 20-win campaign since 2017-18.

Andre Burakovsky Expected to Miss Senators Season Opener With Injury

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Andre Burakovsky is not expected to play in the Ottawa Senators' regular season opener against Toronto after suffering an upper-body injury. Burakovsky was injured Saturday against Montreal after taking a cross-check in the back near the boards from Arber Xhekaj, who checked him headfirst into the boards. Head coach Travis Green confirmed Wednesday that Burakovsky has not yet skated. The 31-year-old winger had been a strong standout in training camp before the unfortunate setback.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Placed On Injured Reserve With Lower-Body Injury

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The Edmonton Oilers officially placed forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on injured reserve Thursday due to a lower-body injury. Nugent-Hopkins missed Tuesday's opener against the Canucks and is expected to remain sidelined for roughly two weeks. The 33-year-old veteran recorded 20 goals and 36 assists across 72 regular-season appearances last year while averaging 19:04 of ice time.

Juuse Saros Confirmed as Nashville Predators Opening Night Starter

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Juuse Saros will get the starting nod in goal for the Nashville Predators at home against the Wild on Thursday. Saros enters his opening night start as the unquestioned No. 1 option after featuring 59 times during the regular season last year, going 28-22-8 with a 3.16 GAA. The durable netminder could approach or exceed the 60-game mark for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign as he anchors the crease in Music City once again.

Nicholas Robertson Scores Twice in Impressive Pittsburgh Penguins Debut

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Nicholas Robertson scored two goals, including a shorthanded tally, while firing four shots and serving two PIM in a 7-0 opening night win over Philadelphia. His standout Penguins debut exceeded expectations by delivering his first multi-goal game since April 2024. Operating on the team's top line, the 25-year-old winger builds on a 32-point campaign from last year, instantly elevating his fantasy profile and hinting at a career-best breakout season.

Anthony Stolarz Shines with 26 Saves in Maple Leafs' Win Over Islanders

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Anthony Stolarz delivered a sharp performance in his first start of the 2026-27 season, stopping 26 of 27 shots to guide the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Postgame, the 32-year-old netminder credited his teammates for blocking shots and controlling rebounds during the back-to-back contest. His .963 save percentage marked his best statistical performance since October 2025 as Toronto secured head coach Jim Hiller's first win behind the bench.

Easton Cowan Sparks Maple Leafs Victory with Goal and Assist vs. Islanders

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Easton Cowan led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders, contributing to both goals. The 21-year-old registered an assist on Colton Sissons' opening goal before netting the game-winner on the power play. Skated on a dominant third line alongside Sissons and Nick Paul, driving offensive zone possession and responsible defensive play. Head coach Jim Hiller and teammates praised Cowan's dynamic playmaking and potential following his two-point night.

Victor Eklund Plays Second NHL Game and Draws First Penalty in Islanders Loss

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Victor Eklund skated in his second career NHL game for the New York Islanders in a 2-1 season-opening loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the contest, Eklund picked up his first career NHL penalty by cross-checking John Tavares on the backend. The Maple Leafs capitalized on the ensuing power play to score the eventual game-winning goal, spoiling a quiet opening night for the Islanders as they search for redemption in their upcoming home opener.

Wednesday, September 30

Brock Nelson Makes Strong Impact With Man Advantage in Opener

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Brock Nelson delivered a productive performance in his Colorado Avalanche debut during an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings, contributing a goal and two assists entirely with the man advantage. Operating on the second power-play unit, the 34-year-old center immediately showed his value after coming off a strong 65-point campaign with 186 shots on net. Nelson's firm top-six role and high shooting percentage cement his status as a valuable fantasy and offensive center.

Artturi Lehkonen Tallies Twice on Power Play in Avalanche Win

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Artturi Lehkonen made a major splash in the Colorado Avalanche's 8-4 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings, scoring two power-play goals on three shots while adding two hits and two blocked shots. Entering a contract year, Lehkonen skated in the top-six alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. Although he works on the second power-play unit, his strong opening performance sets the stage for him to reliably reach his usual offensive production targets.