Overview
- The Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 8-4 on Sept. 30 and scored four power-play goals on five chances, a sudden turnaround for a unit that struggled in last season’s playoffs.
- Head coach Jared Bednar credited structure and movement for the power-play success and said the staff will keep adjusting personnel and tactics rather than relying on star matchups.
- Colorado practiced a full skate before a back-to-back game and listed Zachary L’Heureux and Logan O’Connor in non-contact jerseys, with Bednar saying both remain questionable but L’Heureux is the more likely to play.
- Florida captain Aleksander Barkov left his team’s second game with a leg injury and the Panthers are awaiting MRI results, a development that could be consequential because he missed the entire 2025–26 season for a prior issue.
- Detroit sat captain Dylan Larkin for its opener, he was booed by fans during introductions, and reports say he will miss at least the first two games as teams manage minutes and injuries early in the schedule.