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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal is expected to start Wednesday's home preseason game. Dostal posted a 30-20-4 record, 3.10 GAA, and .888 save percentage across 56 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, followed by a 4-6 record, 2.18 GAA, and .922 save percentage in 10 playoff outings. He is projected to open the upcoming campaign as Anaheim's primary starter, with Ville Husso serving as his understudy.
Isaac Howard logged over 17 minutes without a shot in a 2-1 preseason overtime win against Winnipeg, playing alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Following early criticism from coach Mike Babcock regarding his first preseason game, the 22-year-old forward is focused on details, forechecking, and physical play during training camp. Howard remains in competition to carve out a roster spot with Edmonton as final lineup decisions approach.
Calgary Flames 2024 ninth-overall draft pick Zayne Parekh stood out in a 3-1 preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks by recording two assists. Displaying exceptional edgework, mobility, and confidence, Parekh successfully managed his rover-style play while balancing offensive aggression with defensive responsibility. The 20-year-old defenceman, who played 37 NHL games last season, is entering the campaign looking to secure a full-time role with the Flames.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson sat out Wednesday's morning skate due to a minor undisclosed issue. Head coach Travis Green avoided labeling the absence as an injury, suggesting the 24-year-old blueliner is not in major danger of missing regular-season time. However, Sanderson is unlikely to play in Wednesday's split-squad preseason game against Toronto, and his status remains unclear for Saturday's split-squad exhibition versus the Florida Panthers.
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis is demonstrating significant goal-scoring potential. After scoring 71 goals in the OHL and 18 in the AHL, he notched 10 goals in 41 NHL games in his rookie season. Lardis, 21, is focusing on improving his speed, strength, and two-way game, with coach Jeff Blashill noting increased confidence and better positioning.
Erik Johnson, former Colorado Avalanche defenseman, has signed a multi-year contract extension with ESPN to continue as an NHL analyst. Johnson, the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, played 14 seasons with Colorado, winning a Stanley Cup in 2022. He concluded his 1,023-game NHL career with 348 points and now transitions to broadcasting.
Thomas Chabot (personal) rejoined the Ottawa Senators for Wednesday's morning skate after missing Monday's preseason opener to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. In the 2025-26 season, Chabot recorded seven goals, 31 points, 22 PIM, 36 hits, and 111 blocks in 57 regular-season appearances. He is expected to maintain a top-four role with the team this upcoming campaign.
Forward Adam Sykora will miss four to five months with a lower-body injury after absorbing a crushing hit from Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte during Monday's preseason game. The injury is a crushing blow to the promising Rangers prospect, who had 12 goals and 29 points in 62 AHL games last season with Hartford, alongside three goals and four points across 11 NHL appearances. He was attempting to secure a roster spot or emerge as a primary call-up option for the Blueshirts.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skated for about 15 minutes before leaving Wednesday's practice session due to a lower-body injury. His status for Opening Night against the Hurricanes on Oct. 2 remains uncertain, though he has time to recover. Coming off a campaign where he played all 82 games and notched 32 goals and 32 assists, the veteran winger's health is a key storyline for the Capitals heading into the upcoming regular season.
After leading the NHL with 413 hits last season, Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin is looking to expand his offensive contributions. Trenin scored a career-high 17 goals in 2021-22 under head coach John Hynes and hopes to recapture that scoring touch while maintaining his physical edge. Spending time alongside skilled forwards like Danila Yurov could provide new offensive opportunities for the veteran winger as he enters his third season with Minnesota.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel suffered an injury during a preseason game, receiving a day-to-day designation that has temporarily disrupted his spot in the lineup. Before the setback, Kindel had been skating on a line with Andrei Kuzmenko and Bryan Rust. The team is projecting that Kindel will not miss regular season games that count, though his absence creates immediate opportunities for bubble players like Hendrix Lapierre to secure power play time and roster positioning.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ville Koivunen is dealing with a day-to-day designation after taking a hit to the face, stealing away critical time during a fast-paced preseason camp. Prior to the injury, Koivunen's stock was already trending downward as he slid from practicing alongside surefire NHLers down to lines featuring fourth-liners and prospective AHL players. Missing games puts him at a major disadvantage as he attempts to secure a niche on the NHL roster before the opener.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Blake Lizotte has been sidelined on a week-to-week basis due to an injury, throwing uncertainty into the team's opening-night lineup battles. With Lizotte potentially facing a stint on injured reserve to start the regular season, the path has opened up for lower-line fill-ins like Hendrix Lapierre to claim a roster spot during training camp. Lizotte is currently listed as an extra alongside Filip Hallander as the team navigates early camp injuries.
Rutger McGroarty found the net for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 7-4 preseason loss to the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena. The matchup served as Pittsburgh's second preseason contest of the schedule. McGroarty scored alongside teammates Nick Robertson, who tallied in his Penguins debut, and Kaeden Korczak. The Penguins are currently navigating early roster adjustments and injuries as they prepare for the upcoming regular season.
New York Islanders forward Matias Maccelli scored two power-play goals in a 4-3 preseason victory over the New York Rangers, easing concerns about his top-six production and the team's power play. Maccelli, playing on the left side of the second line, capitalized on a lucky bounce off Sean Durzi and a rebound from Spencer Martin. Head coach Pete DeBoer praised Maccelli for checking necessary boxes as he looks to make a strong statement on his new one-year stint.
Semyon Varlamov completed a 662-day absence following double knee-replacement surgery, stopping 10 shots in relief of Ilya Sorokin during the New York Islanders' 4-3 preseason win over the Rangers. Varlamov last played on November 29, 2024. Head coach Pete DeBoer and teammates praised his inspirational comeback. Varlamov stated his knees feel good and he is ready to play full preseason games to prepare for his backup role behind Sorokin this season.
Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored two goals to power Detroit to a 7-4 preseason victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Brandsegg-Nygård netted Detroit's first goal of the exhibition schedule with a one-timer from the right face-off circle in the first period. He added a second tally in the third period, beating Arturs Silovs with a backhander off a rebound on the power play to round out his night.
Florida Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk exited Tuesday's preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes for precautionary reasons due to an undisclosed issue. Head coach Paul Maurice indicated Tkachuk could return to the ice on Wednesday, suggesting the injury is not serious. Having already appeared in two exhibition games, Tkachuk is not eligible to play again until Florida's regular-season opener next Tuesday against Carolina.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson sustained an undisclosed injury on a blocked shot during the second period of Tuesday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Samuelsson will undergo further evaluation on Wednesday, with an update on his status expected prior to Thursday's exhibition contest against the Detroit Red Wings. The Sabres are expected to handle the 26-year-old with caution ahead of the regular season.
Flyers goalie Dan Vladar exited Tuesday's preseason game against the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury after stopping six of seven shots in 13:31 of ice time. Vladar appeared to hurt his arm or shoulder reaching for a loose puck after contact with Tanner Jeannot. He was replaced by Aleksei Kolosov in a 5-1 loss. Vladar, who signed a five-year, $27.5 million extension this offseason, went 29-14-7 with a 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 2025-26.
