LAS VEGAS — Ryan Craig got what he wanted when he said he needed the Vegas Golden Knights to start on time. They just didn’t start on time in the second period, and it cost them.

The Knights nearly climbed out of a four-goal hole, but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Friday.

...Read more

Consider it already a better start than last year.

In their season opener on Friday night in Dallas, the Blues beat the Stars, 4-0, starting their 2026-27 campaign on a high note before heading to Colorado to finish off a back-to-back on Saturday night.

Mason McTavish, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud (empty net) and Pius Suter (empty net) ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — Logan Stankoven said the Carolina Hurricanes were lethargic.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said there wasn’t enough urgency in their play.

Canes captain Jordan Staal, in simpler terms, said they were outplayed.

Whatever the reason, and all of that was a factor, the Hurricanes followed up an overtime loss to Florida in ...Read more

If the Bruins have shown anything in their first two games of the season, it is that they just might be pretty good at winning time.

After the B’s won their season opener with three goals in the final four minutes against the Rangers on Tuesday, they came from behind to tie the game late and then beat the Winnipeg Jets in overtime on a JJ ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Andrei Kuzmenko returned to practice for the Penguins on Friday. The 30-year-old winger traveled back to Russia last week after the sudden death of his father.

His father, Alexander, was killed by a bear while on a fishing trip in southern Siberia. He was 62. His funeral was held Monday.

“I want to say thank you for everyone ...Read more

DETROIT — Dylan Larkin isn't a favorite of Red Wings fans anymore.

Larkin was introduced before the start of Friday's regular-season opener at Little Caesars Arena and was roundly booed by the crowd.

Larkin, who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day, was on the bench along with other healthy scratches.

Larkin requested a trade ...Read more

SEATTLE — A few minutes before 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, Philipp Grubauer orders the Green Lake Lager. At his suggestion, you do the same. You take the pair of golden pints to a high-top table at Easy Pace Brewing, a building with warm wood and wall-to-wall windows that overlook the eastern edge of Green Lake Park. He wears a black hoodie ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks’ season-opening game against the Florida Panthers felt like a playoff game.

Fights, scrums, big hits, and some impressive goals in a back-and-forth game made the Shark Tank the loudest it has been in a long time, maybe since the team’s last postseason appearance in 2019.

Then the roof came off in ...Read more

Berkly Catton entered his second season ready for whatever the NHL throws at him. They won’t all be as easy as the opener.

The Seattle Kraken downed the Calgary Flames, 6-1, quieting a rowdy crowd ready to send off Calgary’s 43-year-old Scotiabank Saddledome. The second-oldest barn in the NHL is set to be demolished after the season ends.

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Welcome to the new Wild.

Led by a perfect penalty kill, Kirill Kaprizov deflection and veterans stepping up on offense, the Wild dismissed the Predators at Bridgestone Arena in a 3-1 season-opening victory.

Their home opener is Saturday versus Boston at Grand Casino Arena.

Nick Foligno scored the first goal of the season, burying a Michael ...Read more

NEWARK, N.J. — Make no mistake, Joseph Woll was the primary reason the Flyers scored even a point on Thursday.

His 41-save performance masked an up-and-down game from the Flyers in the 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Jack Hughes’ overtime winner. It was an improvement compared to Wednesday’s 7-0 clunker, enough to send the game to ...Read more

NEW YORK — Lightning coach Jon Cooper admitted he was a little worried going into Tampa Bay’s season opener against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Tampa Bay’s opponent had played Tuesday, working off any first-game rust.

The Lightning, who again entered the season with lofty expectations, struggled out of the gate in midtown ...Read more

Nathan MacKinnon did mention on media day that he had been thinking about some things he might do differently this season.

MacKinnon scoring two goals and being an offensive terror? That’s not new.

The Colorado Avalanche superstar dropping his gloves, decisively winning a fight and then throwing his helmet on his way to the penalty box? Yeah...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Sidney Crosby stated his intentions on the first shift.

On the day he officially became the longest-tenured captain in NHL history and the longest-tenured athlete in Pittsburgh sports history, Crosby crushed Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny along the boards 15 seconds into the Penguins’ season opener.

His team ...Read more

It might be a new year. It might be the 10th season. Much is the same with the Vegas Golden Knights. They know how to win season openers, and win coaching debuts.

Coach Ryan Craig’s debut as Knights coach couldn’t have gone better in a complete 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

The Knights improved to 8-1-1 ...Read more

BOSTON — Fraser Minten wasted no time in earning some of his money.

The Boston Bruins showered the 22-year-old center with riches in the offseason, giving him a seven-year contract worth $7.2 million a season.

And with 3:46 left in the third period in a scoreless tie with the New York Rangers, Minten scored the game-winner on a pure snipe to...Read more

LAS VEGAS — If Jack Eichel could live at a hockey rink, he probably would. That’s how dedicated the Vegas Golden Knights center is to his craft.

This is the same player who will join an optional skate, shoot 100 pucks into a net and say it was just because he wanted extra touches. He’s been one of the hardest-working players in the ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — Don’t expect Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour to be emotional when the Stanley Cup banner is raised Tuesday at Lenovo Center.

The Florida Panthers will be in the house. It’s time to start a new season. It’s great to put a new banner next to the one Brind’Amour helped win as the Canes captain in 2006, but it�...Read more