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NHL News

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

Wednesday, September 30

Nathan MacKinnon Dominates With Two Goals and Fight in Opener

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Nathan MacKinnon powered the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings with two goals on eight shots, five PIM, two hits, and a minus-2 rating. MacKinnon scored on a 5-on-3 just 23 seconds into the second period and added his second at 8:33. He capped his night by dropping the gloves with Brandt Clarke in the third period. The elite center is in midseason form, coming off a career-high 53 goals and 74 assists during the previous campaign.

Victor Eklund Makes Islanders NHL Debut in Season Opener Against Leafs

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Islanders rookie Victor Eklund made his meaningful NHL debut in a 2-1 season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs on Sept. 30, 2026. Eklund skated 11:38, facing Toronto's top line of Auston Matthews, Kirill Marchenko, and Jack Roslovic. Although he sat the final 7:34 as coach Pete DeBoer shortened his bench, DeBoer praised the rookie's performance, stating he improved as the game went on and created a couple of scoring looks.

Auston Matthews Leads Top Line Against Islanders Rookie Victor Eklund

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews faced off against Islanders rookie Victor Eklund as Toronto secured a 2-1 season-opening victory on Sept. 30, 2026. Leafs coach Jim Hiller matched his top line featuring Matthews, Kirill Marchenko, and Jack Roslovic directly against Eklund's line in the hard-fought contest, putting the rookie straight into the fire during the opening night matchup.

Jamie Benn Enters 18th Season Leaner After Long Offseason Rest

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Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn enters his 18th NHL season feeling refreshed and leaner after a 155-day offseason following a first-round playoff exit. The 37-year-old forward embraced the extended break to get his body right and train differently, with coach Glen Gulutzan noting Benn looks the skinniest and best-prepared he has ever seen him. Benn and the well-rested Stars open their season Friday against St. Louis, looking to bounce back from last spring.

Jakub Dobes Stops 26 Shots in Canadiens' Season-Opening Victory

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes opened the 2026-27 season strong by stopping 26 of 28 shots (.929 save percentage) in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old is coming off his first full NHL season in 2025-26, where he posted a 29-10-4 record with a .901 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA in 43 regular-season games, alongside a .908 SV% and 2.66 GAA across 19 playoff contests.

Easton Cowan Powers Maple Leafs Past Islanders With Two-Point Night

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Easton Cowan led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders, recording a goal and an assist in the first period. Cowan set up the game's opening goal before shoveling home a power-play rebound with 8:05 left in the first frame. The performance helped Toronto rebound from a season-opening 3-2 loss to Montreal and secured the first win under head coach Jim Hiller. The Maple Leafs next host Ottawa on Saturday night.

Egor Chinakhov Caps Penguins' 7-0 Rout With Power-Play Goal

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Egor Chinakhov capped off the scoring with a third-period power-play goal in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-0 season-opening win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Chinakhov deflected an Erik Karlsson point shot past Dan Vladar to secure the final goal of the night. The tally capped an explosive offensive display for Pittsburgh, with 14 different players finding the scoresheet in the win.

Filip Hallander Tallies Second-Period Goal in Blowout of Flyers

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Filip Hallander scored a second-period goal during the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-0 blowout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Hallander pounced on a net-front rebound off a Sam Girard shot to push Pittsburgh's lead to 5-0. The goal served as a rewarding milestone for Hallander, who worked his way back to the lineup after missing time last season while dealing with the uncertainty of blood clots.

Ville Koivunen Scores First Goal of Season in Win Over Flyers

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Ville Koivunen scored his first goal of the season in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-0 opening-night victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. Capitalizing on a line change, Koivunen recognized open space in the middle of the ice, accepted a pass from Sam Girard, and beat Dan Vladar five-hole with a slick backhand deke. The goal provided an early confidence boost for Koivunen in a dominant team performance.

Hendrix Lapierre Shines With Goal and Assist in Penguins Debut

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Hendrix Lapierre delivered a stellar performance with a goal and an assist in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-0 season-opening rout of the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. Lapierre set up Evgeni Malkin on a second-period power play before blistering a short-side shot past Dan Vladar for his own goal. He also helped set up Filip Hallander's tally later in the frame, showcasing impressive speed and playmaking ability.

Evgeni Malkin Reaches 100 Points vs. Flyers in Season Opener

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Evgeni Malkin scored a second-period goal during Wednesday's 7-0 season-opening victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 40-year-old center ripped a one-timer from the slot on the power play to push the lead to 3-0, marking his 100th career point against Philadelphia. Malkin, who re-signed on a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh, became just the sixth player in NHL history to reach the 100-point milestone against the Flyers franchise.

Arturs Silovs Earns Shutout in Season Opener Win Against Flyers

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Arturs Silovs posted his third career shutout in his 57th start, stopping all 19 shots in a 7-0 blowout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Silovs earned the starting nod over Sergei Murashov and handled a light workload with ease, backed by 10 blocked shots. Last season, the 25-year-old netminder appeared in 39 regular-season games for Pittsburgh, posting a 19-12-8 record with a 3.07 GAA and two shutouts.

Blake Lizotte Returns From Injured Reserve for Season Opener

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Blake Lizotte was activated off injured reserve in time to suit up and play in the Pittsburgh Penguins' season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Lizotte's return helped complete the team's opening-night forward group as Pittsburgh delivered a command performance, dismantling their division rival in a 7-0 blowout victory on the road to kick off the 2026-27 regular season campaign.

Braden Schneider Admits Blunder in Rangers' Season-Opening Loss

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Braden Schneider owned up to a crucial mistake in the New York Rangers' 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Late in the third period, Schneider got caught alone on the rush and burned by JJ Peterka, who went between his legs to score and double Boston's lead. Schneider admitted to a bad read and extended shift. The gaffe highlights early individual and defensive struggles for the pairing as the Rangers navigate a challenging start to the new campaign.

JJ Peterka Shines in Bruins Debut With Stunning Goal in Win

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Acquired via offseason trade, JJ Peterka made an immediate impact in his Boston Bruins debut during a 3-0 season-opening win against the New York Rangers. Peterka dazzled late in the third period, dancing around defenseman Braden Schneider and beating goaltender Igor Shesterkin to double Boston's lead. Teammates and head coach Marco Sturm praised his elite skill, speed, and tenacity, as the winger looks to bounce back and anchor the Bruins' top-six forward group.

William Karlsson Signs Two-Year Extension With Golden Knights Through 2029

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The Vegas Golden Knights signed original franchise staple William Karlsson to a two-year, $13.5 million contract extension ($6.75M AAV) through the 2028-29 season. Karlsson ranks second in team history with 165 goals and 403 points across 10 seasons. The 33-year-old two-way center, entering the final year of his previous deal with a surgically repaired wrist, secures his future in Vegas alongside fellow recent extension recipient Mark Stone.

Alex Tuch Joins New-Look Washington Capitals For New Season

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Power forward Alex Tuch has left the Buffalo Sabres behind for a lucrative payday in D.C., joining a heavily revamped Washington Capitals squad for the 2026-27 season. Alongside fellow newcomers Jordan Kyrou, Boone Jenner, and Vincent Desharnais, Tuch bolsters a Capitals core featuring Alexander Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. The Sabres will get their first regular-season look at their former star on October 24 when Buffalo travels to Washington to face their new division rival.

Brad Marchand Closing In On Return From Lower-Body Injury

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Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is recovering faster than expected from a lower-body injury and could return to the lineup before the end of October. The 38-year-old veteran winger, who recorded 27 goals and 54 points in 52 regular-season appearances during the 2025-26 campaign, has been skating on the road trip and is ahead of schedule following a procedure last month. Upon his return, Marchand is expected to rejoin a forward line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Matt Duchene Placed On Injured Reserve By Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a lower-body injury that has bothered him since the start of training camp. The 35-year-old recently suffered a setback in his recovery and will miss the team's season opener on Friday. With no extra forwards currently on the roster, the Stars are expected to utilize seven defensemen in Duchene's absence as they manage his ongoing recovery process early in the 2026-27 NHL season.

Teuvo Teravainen Gets Major Opportunity With Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen has been gifted a golden opportunity to secure a top-six role following an injury to Andrew Mangiapane. During practice in Salt Lake City, Teravainen was inserted onto the second line's left wing alongside Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis. After missing out on the opening-night lineup during camp, Teravainen must now capitalize on this new chance to maintain his roster spot under head coach Jeff Blashill while the team navigates early-season injuries.