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NHL News

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

Tuesday, September 29

Igor Shesterkin Stopped 20 of 22 Shots in Rangers' Season-Opening Loss

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After being named opening night starter against the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 20 of 22 shots in a 3-0 season-opening loss on Tuesday. Shesterkin repeatedly bailed out defensive breakdowns and odd-man rushes before surrendering a late third-period goal. The veteran netminder is coming off a 2025-26 campaign where he logged a 25-19-6 record, 2.50 GAA, and .912 save percentage across 51 games.

Jeremy Swayman Secures 24-Save Shutout in Season Opener

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Jeremy Swayman stopped all 24 shots he faced in the Boston Bruins' 3-0 win over the Rangers on Tuesday, securing a strong start to the new campaign. After trading zeroes for over 56 minutes, Swayman turned aside 10 shots in the final frame as New York pushed for the lead. Building on a stellar 2025-26 season where he went 31-18-4, the 27-year-old goaltender will look to maintain this momentum when the Bruins visit the Jets on Friday.

Carter Verhaeghe Sets Up Overtime Winner Against Hurricanes

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Carter Verhaeghe played a pivotal role in the Florida Panthers' 1-0 season-opening victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. With under 10 seconds remaining in overtime, Verhaeghe brought the puck into the offensive zone and set up Gustav Forsling for a game-winning blue-line one-timer with just 4.3 seconds left on the clock. His clutch play capped off a tight defensive battle against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Gustav Forsling Lifts Panthers Past Hurricanes With OT Winner

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Gustav Forsling hammered a blue-line one-timer past Brandon Bussi with just 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Florida Panthers to a 1-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Tuesday's season opener. Receiving a late pass from Carter Verhaeghe with under 10 seconds left, Forsling's clutch blast spoiled Carolina's banner-raising night and capped a stellar defensive battle between the past two Stanley Cup champions.

Brandon Bussi Makes 19 Saves in Hurricanes' Overtime Loss

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Brandon Bussi delivered a strong season-opening performance for the Carolina Hurricanes, stopping 19 of 20 shots before allowing a game-winning overtime goal with just 4.3 seconds remaining in a 1-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. Bussi kept Carolina competitive throughout regulation to secure a point on their banner-raising night. He is expected to make his next start either Friday at home against Washington or Saturday on the road in Philadelphia.

Kirill Marchenko Debuts with Assist in 3-2 Loss to Canadiens

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After resolving visa issues following his blockbuster trade and new contract, elite winger Kirill Marchenko made his Toronto debut in a 3-2 season-opening loss to Montreal. Playing alongside Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, Marchenko picked up an assist and showed immense creativity, dominating high-danger chances against top competition. He is locked into a prominent top-six role and top power-play duties for the Maple Leafs.

Sergei Bobrovsky Stops 21 Shots in Maple Leafs Debut Defeat

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Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves in his Toronto debut during a 3-2 season-opening loss to Montreal. The veteran goaltender was left exposed by three defensive-zone turnovers and tough deflections by his new teammates. After signing a three-year contract in July, Bobrovsky will look to bounce back once the Maple Leafs clean up their defensive execution in front of him.

William Nylander Scores Twice in Toronto's Opening Night Loss

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William Nylander scored two goals in Toronto's 3-2 season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Nylander opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the first period with a brilliant individual effort, tying the fourth-fastest goal to start a franchise season opener. He added a second late in the third frame for his 43rd career multi-goal game, flying high as he puts his previous season behind him.

Zachary Bolduc Scores Crucial Goal in Canadiens Season Opener

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Zachary Bolduc contributed a key goal to help the Montreal Canadiens edge the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in their Tuesday night season opener. Bolduc found the back of the net from the slot at 4:52 of the second period, giving Montreal a brief lead and helping set the stage for their eventual victory.

Alexandre Carrier Lifts Canadiens Over Maple Leafs with Late Goal

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Alexandre Carrier delivered a standout performance with a goal and an assist, propelling the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opener. Carrier broke a 2-2 tie by beating Sergei Bobrovsky on the glove side at 13:12 of the third period, sealing the hard-fought road win for Montreal.

Josh Anderson Leads Montreal Past Toronto with Goal and Assist

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Josh Anderson posted a goal and an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens secure a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Tuesday's season opener. Anderson tied the game at 10:53 of the first period by batting a rebound out of the air in front of the net, sparking Montreal's offensive effort on the road before they head to Pittsburgh.

Jakub Dobes Stops 25 Shots in Season-Opening Win over Toronto

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Jakub Dobes secured a strong opening night victory, stopping 25 of 27 shots as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday. The 25-year-old netminder carried over solid form from his impressive previous campaign, successfully defending the road crease against a revamped Toronto squad to earn the first win of the season for Montreal.

Connor Bedard Lacks Firm Return Timeline Following Shoulder Surgery

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Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson stated Tuesday that the team does not yet have a firm timeline for center Connor Bedard's return from shoulder surgery. Bedard is expected to remain out until at least November based on the initial four-month recovery estimate following his July procedure. Davidson added that a clearer timeline may be established sometime in October. Fantasy managers with an open injured reserve slot should continue stashing the young star.

Jacob Markstrom Records 15-Save Shutout in Panthers Return

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Jacob Markstrom kicked off his return to the Florida Panthers with a stellar 15-save shutout in Tuesday's 1-0 overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. Markstrom anchored Florida's defense by actively playing the puck and denying four high-danger shots, including a key second-period power-play sequence. Returning to the franchise he debuted with in 2010-11, it remains unconfirmed if the 36-year-old netminder will start Thursday in San Jose or cede duties to Akira Schmid.

Ivan Demidov Returns From Foot Injury to Play Tuesday vs. Leafs

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Ivan Demidov will be in the lineup versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday after successfully battling a foot issue that lingered throughout the preseason. The 20-year-old forward will begin the 2026-27 campaign skating on the Montreal Canadiens' second line and is also expected to be a regular presence on the power play. Demidov looks to build on a promising rookie campaign where he recorded 19 goals and 43 assists across 82 regular-season games last year.

Matt Nieto Announces Retirement After 12 NHL Seasons

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Veteran forward Matt Nieto announced his retirement from the NHL at age 33 following a 12-season career impacted by persistent knee injuries. Originally drafted into the league, Nieto appeared in 705 regular-season games with San Jose, Colorado, and Pittsburgh, tallying 87 goals and 119 assists for 206 total points. After missing significant time due to knee surgeries and sitting out the 2025-26 season, the former Avalanche forward decided to officially hang up his skates.

Justin Barron Claimed Off Waivers by St. Louis Blues

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The St. Louis Blues claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators following injuries to Tyler Tucker and Logan Mailloux. The 24-year-old former first-round pick joins St. Louis on a one-year, $1.575 million contract. Barron, who registered nine assists in 52 games with Nashville last season, has accumulated 52 points over 208 career NHL games. He expects to bring mobility, puck-moving ability, and right-side blue-line depth to his new club.

Sidney Crosby Enters 22nd NHL Season in Final Year of Contract

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Entering his 22nd season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby is starting the year in the final season of his contract with no immediate extension pressure. Crosby sits at 1,761 career points, just 38 shy of Ron Francis for fifth on the all-time scoring list. The captain navigated a compressed preseason with new linemate Nick Robertson, keeping his long-term future flexible while maintaining his relentless competitive drive and focusing entirely on guiding the team back to championship contention.

Brock Faber Out Indefinitely After Surgery for Fractured Skull

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Minnesota Wild top-pair defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing successful surgery Sunday to repair a skull fracture. Faber suffered the severe injury from a puck to the head off the stick of Dallas Stars forward Sam Steel during the final minute of the second period in a preseason game on Sept. 25. General manager Bill Guerin confirmed Faber is resting at home with no timetable to return, dealing a major early-season blow to the Wild's blue line.

Roope Hintz Fully Healthy And Ready For Start Of 2026-27 Season

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Roope Hintz is ready for the start of the 2026-27 campaign after recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 26 straight games, including the playoffs, to finish last season. Hintz appeared in two of Dallas' four preseason games to prove his full health. Last year, he recorded 15 goals, 44 points, 126 shots on net, and 60 hits across 53 appearances for the Dallas Stars.