Both the Kings and the Avalanche entered this game with high expectations. Colorado built its team around its core players, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, while Los Angeles added a few veteran pieces and is leaning towards their up-and-coming young talent and veterans.
Read more: Avalanche Spoil Kings Season Opener
Martin Necas’ Two Goals Lift Avalanche to 4-1 Win Over Kings
It was a very “Game 1” feeling to this first period, mainly for the Avalanche. The Kings came out strong early in the period, generating a lot of chances in the Avalanche zone, but Scott Wedgewood was impressive to start. Keeping track of the puck well and making sure any loose rebounds were either batted away quickly or gloved for a whistle.
Read more: Martin Necas’ Two Goals Lift Avalanche to 4-1 Win Over Kings
'It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three'
Artūrs Šilovs Shuts Out J.T. Miller And Carson Soucy In Battle Of Former Canucks To Start 2025–26 NHL Season
While the current Vancouver Canucks prepare for their season-opener on October 9, some former Canucks started their 2025–26 season off with a matchup against former teammates. In the second game of the NHL’s opening night, former Canuck Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out J.T. Miller, Carson Soucy, and the New York Rangers by a score of 3–0. All three players started the 2024–25 season on Vancouver’s opening night roster and all ended up on different teams via trade.
Read more: Artūrs Šilovs Shuts Out J.T. Miller And Carson Soucy In Battle Of Former Canucks To Start 2025–26...
Penguins Play Clinical Road Game, Shut Out Rangers, 3-0
Do The Math, And You'll See Why Sabres Are A Playoff Longshot
The Buffalo Sabres are facing an uphill battle to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, and we’ll be honest – in our pre-season predictions for THN.com, we slotted the Sabres into sixth place in the Atlantic. To wit: in this writer’s opinion, the Atlantic playoff locks are the Toronto Maple Leafs (who were the best regular-season team in the division last year), the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the defending-champion Florida Panthers.
Read more: Do The Math, And You'll See Why Sabres Are A Playoff Longshot
The Hockey Show: Postgame reaction to Panthers picking up Opening Night win over Chicago
How Braeden Cootes Made The Vancouver Canucks’ Opening-Night Roster
On June 27, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks drafted center Braeden Cootes 15th overall. Not even half a year after, Cootes is preparing to make his NHL debut on Thursday night in Vancouver’s season-opener against the Calgary Flames. Having already passed the tests provided by the prospects showcase, training camp, and pre-season, Cootes is taking a low-stress approach to skating in his first NHL game.
Read more: How Braeden Cootes Made The Vancouver Canucks’ Opening-Night Roster
