Camp Diary: Day 5

Camp Diary — Day 5

Day five of 2026 training camp, Monday, September 21. Alex Ovechkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will sit out the Capitals' preseason game tonight. Brady Tkachuk marked his Panthers debut with a Gordie Howe hat trick, and Aleksander Barkov played his first game in fifteen months. Eight days until opening night, and the cuts are coming every morning now. Here is what happened at every rink.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

The Bruins beat Washington 3-2 in a shootout Sunday in their preseason opener at TD Garden. James Hagens scored the lone shootout goal in his first preseason game, Charlie McAvoy tied it with 1:44 left in regulation, and Michael DiPietro made 30 saves plus three more in the shootout — a clear step toward the backup job behind Jeremy Swayman. Boston made its first cuts Monday morning, sending eight players to Providence's camp.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres open their preseason tonight at Pittsburgh. Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth are both back healthy — Danforth told reporters his body is "back to 100%" after last season's broken kneecap. Noah Ostlund signed an eight-year, $52.8 million extension that begins next season. On the Hellebuyck front: Darren Dreger reports the Jets turned down a Sabres proposal partly over health questions about the center coming back, and Elliotte Friedman says Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has Winnipeg on his no-trade list — the situation is, in Friedman's words, "in a holding pattern."

Detroit Red Wings

Todd McLellan was "not happy" with Sunday's special-teams-heavy session: "I was happy with the kids, but I wasn't happy with our day." Dylan Larkin remains out with the upper-body injury from off-ice training, and interim GM Shawn Horcoff hopes both Larkin and unsigned RFA Simon Edvinsson get into at least one preseason game. The goaltending splits are set for the first two exhibitions: Daniil Tarasov plays the first two periods tonight at Columbus, John Gibson gets the first two Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

Florida Panthers

Brady Tkachuk's first game as a Panther was a Gordie Howe hat trick — two goals including an empty-netter, an assist, and a fight with Charles Alexis Legault — in Sunday's 6-3 win over Carolina. The bigger story might be Aleksander Barkov: a goal and an assist in 15:17 in his first game since winning the Cup on June 18, 2025, after missing all of last season with a knee injury. GM Bill Zito said Brad Marchand is expected back "early in the season" after his offseason surgery.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens swept Saturday's split-squad home-and-home with Toronto, 4-1 at Scotiabank Arena and 4-3 in overtime at the Bell Centre. The second line of Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov clicked immediately, and Cole Caufield won the home game in overtime on a give-and-go with Lane Hutson. Tonight Montreal brings a regular-heavy lineup to Trois-Rivières for Kraft Hockeyville against Ottawa. Kaiden Guhle remains out four to five weeks after adductor surgery.

Ottawa Senators

Ottawa opens its preseason tonight against Montreal in Trois-Rivières. Monday's practice lines had Dylan Cozens centering William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund, with Stephen Halliday between Andre Burakovsky and Drake Batherson. Travis Green says "crunch time has begun" for roster hopefuls like Halliday, Carter Yakemchuk and PTO defenseman Ben Hutton. Artem Zub and Warren Foegele are skating but not with the main group; both are one to two weeks away.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning opened preseason with a 2-1 win over Nashville on Sunday. Ilya Mikheyev scored 93 seconds in, deflecting a John Carlson point shot; Conor Geekie forced the turnover that became the winner, and Sam O'Reilly was named first star. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 12 of 13 and will likely sit the rest of the preseason. Tampa made its first cuts Monday (seven players to juniors); Yanni Gourde is out until December after hip surgery and Dominic James broke his right hand in offseason training.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Gavin McKenna's professional debut came in Saturday's split-squad sweep at Montreal's hands: 20:27 of ice time, three shots, no points, one hooking penalty — coach Jim Hiller said he was in on "three or four chances." Monday brought a new top defensive pairing at practice: Morgan Rielly with Darren Raddysh, and Rielly expects to be available for Wednesday's split-squad against Ottawa. Max Domi is out indefinitely after failing his physical and is expected to land on long-term injured reserve; Toronto cut eight players.

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes lost their preseason opener 6-3 at Florida on Sunday, dressing a youth-led squad against a veteran-heavy Panthers group. Justin Robidas had a goal and an assist and Dominik Badinka scored off a Markstrom turnover; Pyotr Kochetkov made 28 saves in his first NHL minutes since December 20, 2025. Seth Jarvis is still in the non-contact jersey after June shoulder surgery, and Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned and out of camp — GM Eric Tulsky says the team "won't be commenting further."

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus opens its preseason tonight against Detroit at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets trimmed six players on Saturday to reach 49 in camp. Adam Fantilli remains unsigned and has not reported; Elliotte Friedman says the two sides are "not any closer." Neither Fantilli nor Kirill Marchenko — who deflected extension questions this week — is in tonight's lineup.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils beat the Islanders 2-1 Sunday in their preseason opener: Ryan Schmelzer tied it in the second, Connor Brown won it on a third-period breakaway, and David Rittich went the distance with 23 saves. Tonight against the Rangers, Sheldon Keefe dresses the NHL core — Anthony Mantha with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier with Nico Hischier and Luke Evangelista. Nick Bjugstad is out four to six months after pectoral surgery.

New York Islanders

The Islanders lost 2-1 at New Jersey on Sunday; Cole Eiserman opened the scoring on a 4-on-3 power play and Vitek Vanecek stopped 20 of 22 in his first game as an Islander. The club assigned four prospects to juniors on Sunday. Monday's veteran group showed the new power play: Matthew Schaefer quarterbacking the top unit with Kyle Palmieri in Mathew Barzal's usual spot. Barzal is shut down two weeks with knee inflammation; Palmieri is back on the top line after his early-camp maintenance days.

New York Rangers

The Rangers open preseason tonight at New Jersey with a prospect-heavy group — Matt Rempe, Liam Greentree, Adam Sykora and Scott Morrow are among the names in the mix, with Dylan Garand and Callum Tung in goal. Mike Sullivan's camp lines remain intact behind them: Gabe Perreault with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière up top, 18-year-old Alberts Smits on the third pair. The Post notes Rempe is fighting to win his fourth-line spot back after two thumb surgeries derailed last season.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers cut 15 players over the weekend, down to 42 in camp. Tonight's preseason opener at Hershey against Washington is a youth mix, with Joseph Woll and Carson Bjarnason splitting the goal. Matvei Michkov is the subject of an NHL.com feature today describing him as "lighter and stronger" — down to a claimed 176 pounds and 10 percent body fat after arriving at last year's camp at 205 — following his standout turn in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins made their first cut Sunday, sending 18-year-old goalie Matvei Nikonovich back to OHL Barrie. Monday brought injury news: Blake Lizotte (upper body) and Oliver Okuliar (lower body, hurt at Sunday's skate) are both week-to-week. Tonight's preseason opener against Buffalo dresses veterans Bryan Rust and Kris Letang, with Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist splitting the net.

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com — the 41-year-old captain has missed two straight skates and will not play in tonight's preseason game against Philadelphia in Hershey. Coach Spencer Carbery declined to say whether Ovechkin will appear in any preseason game. The Caps lost Sunday's opener 3-2 in a shootout at Boston, which Carbery called "sloppy." Tonight brings the first look at the Protas–Kyrou–Protas line and the new power-play units under assistant Ray Bennett.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago's first big cut wave came Monday: nine players to Rockford and veteran Derrick Pouliot to waivers, leaving 38 in camp. Tonight's home preseason opener against Minnesota dresses essentially the full NHL group, with Spencer Knight expected to play the whole game in net — but Patrick Kane will not dress, coach Jeff Blashill confirmed. The Blackhawks lost Saturday's opener 3-2 in overtime at Minnesota, where Kevin Korchinski stood out with an assist and a team-high 25:25.

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar will miss both of the first two preseason games with the day-to-day lower-body injury; Jared Bednar wants him back on the ice Tuesday or Wednesday and into one of the final two exhibitions. The Avalanche won Sunday's opener 4-1 over Utah: Beckett Hamilton and Taylor Makar both scored in their NHL preseason debuts, Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Nabokov stopped 16 of 17 in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado is at Winnipeg tonight.

Dallas Stars

The Stars won their preseason opener 2-1 at St. Louis on Saturday. Arttu Hyry scored 16 seconds in and is the camp's early standout — six shots, 11-for-17 on faceoffs, 18:51 of ice time, and a public compliment from Glen Gulutzan on his hockey IQ. Tonight's rematch at home is vet-heavy: Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz all dress, with Casey DeSmith in goal. Tyler Seguin is back on the ice and, per Jim Nill, "feeling good."

Minnesota Wild

The Wild beat Chicago 3-2 in overtime Saturday in their preseason opener: Rieger Lorenz, Nico Sturm and Tyler Pitlick (the OT winner) scored, and the 22-year-old Lorenz drew praise from John Hynes for his energy and competitiveness. Tonight's rematch at Chicago is another young group — the veterans are being held for Friday's finale. Filip Gustavsson is expected to start the season on injured reserve, out until November, leaving Jesper Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard as the NHL pair. Hynes signed a multi-year extension before camp.

Nashville Predators

Nashville lost its preseason opener 2-1 at Tampa Bay on Sunday, but Brady Martin was the story: the 19-year-old deked inside the blue line and snapped one past Andrei Vasilevskiy, hit the post late, and is now a favorite for one of the final roster spots on the wing. The Predators trimmed the roster to 54 on Monday, sending Zachary L'Heureux and Tanner Molendyk to Milwaukee. They host Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues lost their preseason opener 2-1 to Dallas on Saturday, and Jordan Binnington had a rough night in a contract year — beaten 16 seconds in and again on a second-period breakaway, 16 saves on 18, with Georgi Romanov perfect in relief. Tonight's rematch at Dallas is Mason McTavish's debut in a Blues sweater: he centers the second line between Dube and Jonatan Berggren after arriving from Anaheim for two first-rounders at the draft.

Utah Hockey Club

Utah lost its preseason opener 4-1 at Colorado on Sunday. Yegor Borikov scored the only goal; Sebastian Cossa stopped 11 of 12 in his Mammoth preseason debut. Fourth-overall pick Caleb Desnoyers played his first NHL preseason game after a lingering camp injury, while Tij Iginla sat and is expected back around Tuesday. Monday's cuts sent Ben McCartney, Scott Perunovich, Gabe Smith and Matt Villalta down; 55 players were in camp.

Winnipeg Jets

No movement on the Connor Hellebuyck standoff: the three-time Vezina winner remains suspended for failing to report, and Kevin Cheveldayoff says the team "will not be rushed." The Jets lost Saturday's preseason opener 5-2 at Edmonton. Tonight against Colorado, Stuart Skinner starts in goal for his first preseason appearance in a Jets uniform after signing a two-year deal on July 1.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks opened preseason with a 6-2 win over San Jose on Sunday, dressing an NHL-heavy lineup against a mostly AHL Sharks squad. Beckett Sennecke scored a natural hat trick; Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist. The breakout belonged to Tristan Luneau: a goal and two assists in a team-high 25:31 after moving up to the top pair when Drew Helleson left with an undisclosed injury. Laurent Brossoit stopped 18 of 20 against his old club.

Calgary Flames

Calgary lost its preseason opener 4-2 to Seattle on Sunday. Aydar Suniev scored twice and Sam Honzek had an assist in his first NHL game action in ten months. Brennan Othmann was ejected minutes in after an elbow on Ville Ottavainen. Dustin Wolf has yet to dress this preseason. The Flames assigned three AHL-contract players to the Wranglers ahead of the game.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers beat Winnipeg 5-2 Saturday in their preseason opener. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist skating together with Vasily Podkolzin; Evan Bouchard had four assists; Ryan Shea had a goal and two helpers in his Oilers debut as Bouchard's new partner. Alex Formenton scored on a breakaway in his first game since April 2022, and new coach Mike Babcock called the Formenton–Colton Dach–Mathieu Joseph trio "my favorite line tonight by far." Tristan Jarry allowed one goal on 16 shots.

Los Angeles Kings

Drew Doughty was named the 15th captain in franchise history last week, succeeding the retired Anze Kopitar. The Kings lost their preseason opener 4-2 to Vegas on Saturday in the Empire Classic; Andre Lee and Lane Pederson scored, and Anton Forsberg made 12 saves on 15 shots.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks dressed a mostly AHL lineup in Sunday's 6-2 preseason loss at Anaheim. Adam Gaudette remains out with the upper-body injury, with no published update since Friday — his roster spot stays vulnerable with younger forwards pushing. San Jose made its first cuts, seven prospects including 2025 first-rounder Josh Ravensbergen; 56 players remain in camp.

Seattle Kraken

Seattle is 2-0 on the preseason weekend, both 4-2 wins with all-young lineups: Saturday over Vancouver, Sunday at Calgary. Logan Morrison scored the game-winner both nights and drew praise from coach Marco Lambert for his positioning; Ty Nelson is emerging as the young defenseman pushing for a roster spot, leading the defense in ice time at Calgary.

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver cut 11 players Monday, leaving 46 in camp — prospects Braeden Cootes, Adam Novotný and Brooks Rogowski survived. The Canucks lost their preseason opener 4-2 at Seattle on Saturday; Cootes scored. Thatcher Demko remains limited and not a full participant; GM Ryan Johnson called it "not by any means a setback" in his recovery from January hip surgery, with Kevin Lankinen the expected No. 1 if Demko misses the start. Manny Malhotra says the club is "in no rush" to name a captain.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas opened preseason with a 4-2 win at Los Angeles on Saturday. Jackson Hallum scored twice in the third — the go-ahead goal and an empty-netter — for first-star honors; Viliam Kmec had a goal and an assist and Adin Hill stopped 17 of 19. The Golden Knights cut 16 players, leaving 51 in camp. They play at San Jose on Tuesday.