The NHL Season is off to a WILD Start…

The NHL Season is off to a WILD Start…

It is week one of the NHL season. We’re back, baby. And we’re already off to a wild start. Tendies are letting in goals from center. The boys are eager to drop the mits and throw the body. And teams are already getting called out as the NHL has returned. Week one was packed. So, let’s take a look at everything that happened to kick off this season. Now, right away, we start off the week cooking. And why not a just jump right into it. Game started Tuesday, but Monday was the day where everything started to heat up. And boy did it ever. First, Conor McDavid is Conor McDavid. He signs a 2-year extension at $12.5 million AAV. That’s the same damn deal he’s got right now. And yeah, you heard that right. $12.5 million. Ladies and gentlemen, hug your closest Leaf fan. They’re in shambles hearing that news. And also congratulate Oilers fans because this means the window is extended. the biggest hometown discount ever because the man wants to win more than anything on this planet. Mc Jesus has put the league on notice with this deal. Three more years to win in Edmonton or else he’s pretty much as good as gone. Then the Department of Panther safety steps right out to lay down the law. On the weekend, the Panthers and Lightning went to a fight in a preseason hockey game broke out. A combined 13 ejections in this game. Both benches looked like an 11 p.m. beer league game. The league dropped the hammer, suspending Tampa’s JJ Moser and Scott Saborn for two games after things got a little bit greasy during the preseason. These two teams hate each other. It’s awesome. Give me all the violence and hate between these two teams this season. I love it. The battle of Florida is alive. And that was just Monday. The puck hadn’t even dropped yet, but it all started on Tuesday with a triple header. And kicking off the season are the defending champs in the Panthers and the Chicago Bedars. Chicago is looking to get rid of that name this season. So out of the gate comes Frankie Nazar. Signs a big ticket in the summer. Gets a beway and scores the first goal of the NHL season. He looked dynamite too all night. He had two points in the game. Florida says, “All right, let’s dig in here. We got a tilt in game one. Fire me up. AJ Greer versus Nick Felino. Couple rights, couple lefts, sit for 5 minutes and then move on. Best player in this one though was Spencer Knight. Being a goalender on Chicago is a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, but he was dynamite. He made some huge saves to keep the Hawks in this one. He stopped 34 of 37 shots, but it still wasn’t enough. Typical Blackhawks fashion. Yes, Boquist becomes José Conenko. Bats it out of the air. That’s the game winner. The whole league remains sick to their stomach watching Brad Marshon celebrate by getting rats shot at them. Defending cup champs take the two points and say suck it. Next was the Penguins and the Rangers. Two teams who royally disappointed their fans last season are in for a ro shambo. JT Miller, the 29th captain in Rangers history, leads the boys out. And that’s about all the cheering Rangers fans did in this one. The Penguins, who are in full rebuild mode, come in and shut out their former coach Mike Sullivan. Everyone is talking about Sid’s future coming into this season. But how about Gino Malcin? Two assists in this one for him. He had some pep in the step. It’s going to be hilarious when he becomes a Panther for a sixth round pick at the deadline this year. Arthur Celovs also looked really good. He gets the first shutty of the season. Pittsburgh keeps Shanghai Jerry on the bench and it pays off with a three nothing win. That means Dan Muse picks up his first win as a head coach while the Rangers lay an absolute egg in their home opener. A lot of people have the Rangers bouncing back this year, but that was a stinker. Not a good start. Finally, it’s the Kings versus the ABS. Big boy West Hockey right away here. Josh Leilyn Manson absolutely dummies. Warren Fogle, Jeff Mallet steps right up, says, “No, sir. You cannot do that. We’re dropping them.” The ABS though, they look good all around in this game. They got their cap back with Gabriel Landiskog playing his first regular season game in three and a half years. And the big boys all got their cookies in this one. The Nate Dog, two apples, passes Joe Sack for most points in ABS history. Then you got Marty Nas who still needs a new deal for next season. So he goes off for two goals and says get my damn agent on the phone. Mar is still a slick Rick out there dancing by wingers on the blue line as the ABS win 4 to one. We are high stepping out of the gate here for the first night of hockey. It’s so good to be back and that means we can finally go to meaningful games again thanks to our friends at Segeek. Segeek is the best app for finding deals on tickets by rating them on a scale of 1 to 10 so that you know if you’re getting a good deal. If it’s red, no bueno. Don’t touch that. If it’s green, that’s a gem and you should snatch up those tickets. The season is here. I’m going to be all over the app checking for lastminute deals on tickets to get into the yach club at Leaf Games. And you could do the same too for your local team if you download the app. You got to know we have a code for you guys from SeatGeek. You can use code hockey 2025 for 10% off your next set of tickets at SegeGeek. That’s 10% off any tickets with promo code hockey 2025. So, make sure you click the link in the description to download the app and have the code automatically added to your account so that you can use it later. Big thanks as always to Segeek for sponsoring our weekly recaps this year. And now we can get into the mix for Wednesday’s games. Starting off, Wednesday was the Leafs versus the Habs. Expectations are still huge for both of these teams. The Leafs are trying to prove that they will somehow be better without Mitch Mner while the Habs are trying to take the next step after a good last season. We jump right into this one. Two to2. Halfway through the third, Morgan Riley on the doorstep gives Toronto the lead and he needs a big season after a tough year. To me, he looked like Toronto’s best player all night. Aside from Anthony Stolars, who was also solid in between the pipe, stopping 29 of 31, the big boys and Matthews and Knander all got their cookies on empty netters. And yet, the Yach Club at Scotia Bank Arena was the loudest it was all night when they showed the Jays scoring on the jumbotron. There was no way the Yach Club was getting that loud for the Leafs. The city of Toronto was already in parade mode and the Leafs win the home opener keeps the party going. Moving on to Boston versus Washington. Alexandro Vetkin, the new goalcoring goat, heads into what might be his final season in the NHL. Boston, on the other hand, are coming off one of the most miserable seasons in their last 20 years. But David Passac is a man possessed. Over the last three seasons, he scored a combined 138 points over the next highest scorer on his team. This man is the very definition of most valuable player to his team, and he’s off to another hot start. He scores the first goal of the game. Tommy Boy Wilson tries to get the Caps going by steamrolling a guy, but pasta was on the menu tonight. He adds another two assists. Casual three-point night for him. Boston looked pretty solid under new head coach Marco Sturm. And they could be a sleeper this year with everyone healthy and in camp, but who knows? It’s the first game. Relax. Then it’s a new era in Vegas. Mitch Marner’s first game as a gold night is here. This one was a little bit of a barn burner. It’s not often you see two teams blow separate twogoal leads in the same game. Kings take a five-minute penalty and Pavle score a threef gets two to complete the hattie. But he had 35 tucks last season. Fantasy steal if you ask me. But then the Knights started feeling it. And Mitch Marner shows Vegas what he does best. Cheeky little slip pass. That’s gorgeous right to Eel. He signed an 8-year 13.5 million extension before the game. How about that for a night? That top line started buzzing in the latter half, but the Kings tie it back up. It goes to a shootout. Mner needs to score to keep Vegas alive and he doesn’t. Leaf fans say we’ve seen all that before, but the Kings take it after a ballsy effort. Finally, it’s the Battle of Alberta. Conor McDavid gets a nice standing ovation after agreeing to be paid minimum wage to be an Oiler. And he comes out cooking. Two points right out of the gate. The power play is looking lethal. Mia Pani, that Italian stallion is looking like a good fit. But if you know the Flames, they’re always in for a dog fight just like last season. They get one, two, and then Skinner with a hand tossed pizza right to Blake Coleman just leaves it on a platter for him to poke it home right between the wickets. Bousard’s like, “What the are you doing, man? It’s a tie game and if it wasn’t for the Wolfpack, Dustin Wolf, Edmonton would have won this in regulation or an OT.” Instead, it’s eight rounds of a shootout later. Nasam Kadri says enough forehand backhand twine. Let’s go home. Flames come back after being down three to nothing in a dog of a win. McDavid’s brilliance is once again overshadowed by mediocre goalending. However, Thursday was the day that things truly got rolling here. 14 games on our first Bman special of the year with no games on Friday. So, let’s kick it into high gear. Islanders Penguins, the highly anticipated first overall pick. Matthew Schaefer makes his NHL debut. Could looked pretty damn good for someone who turned 18 a month ago. He gets his first NHL point after a silky feed to Jonathan Duan. He’s the youngest defenseman to score a point in the expansion era. Islanders fans love hearing that. The Penguins though, they’re already ruining their lottery chances because Justin Brazzo and of Genny Malcin are on fire. Brazo’s finest gets the second game winner in a row. Malcolm another goal and two assists. The guy can’t wait to be a Panther. Penguins are two and0. Keep the change. On to the Habs versus Red Wings. Is this finally the year the Iser plan works and Detroit doesn’t royally fumble getting into the playoffs? Well, getting Tendy John Gibson should help. This man has been in trade rumors since before the First World War and he finally makes his debut for another team in Detroit only to get absolutely lit up. Five goals on 13 shots. The Eer plan is looking like the eyes are sham. Nine years without playoff hockey in Detroit makes me sick. And this start is even worse. Kudos to the Habs. They look good though, especially Jakob Dobish. Now, speaking of long-term playoff droughts, bad starts, and utter disappointments. The Buffalo Sabres lay a nice fat egg in their home opener. The Rangers hit them with the Uno reverse card and shut out the Savers four to nothing. JT Miller picks up his first goal as Rangers captain and Igor Sturken was a wall. Stopped all 37 shots for the shut out. The Rangers need Sturken to be godlike if they want a full bounce back this year. He looks dialed in early, which is great for New York. Conor Badard is also humming here to start the season. Spencer Knight was my standout in game one, but Bard still generating some solid chances and looked notably faster than he did last year. They got Boston. He’s sitting pretty in the circle and absolutely wires one for his first of the year. Just an FU type of release. World beater. However, this one would need OT and Yonas Corposalo puts on a show. First, he robs Frankie and Aar says, “Nuh-uh.” And then seconds later, Badard on a B-way. Nope. Corposalo’s feeling glove. He snags that bad boy and keeps Boston alive. They then come down on a twoon. It’s the rookie Frasier Minton. He buries another Leaf prospect that’ll probably turn into a dog for Boston. The Bruins are 2 and 0 on the year. So are the Panthers. Shocker. They got Philly who has Rick Tocket debuting as their head coach. Darth Vadar is the chosen one. Poor guy was like Goldberg in the Mighty Ducks just strapped to the post facing 34 shots from the cup winners. Brad Marawn, the rack king ends up whipping one from Jupiter. It goes under the bar. That’s the gamewinner. No Barov. Noachchuck don’t matter. Panthers win. Everyone’s mad cuz they’re bad and they can’t keep up with the cup champs. Now, two teams in the Atlantic who could really make some noise is Tampa and Ottawa and they’re starting it with a bang. First, it was a heavyweight tilt between the two Curtises. Curtis McDermott and the 69 behemoth Curtis Douglas. Yeah, Douglas first NHL shift. Wants to drop him. Love it. Get this guy a beer. Then Sabrango and Lillberg get in on the action. No one is giving an inch in this game. Kachchuck is taking on three guys at once. Things are off to a hot start. Back and forth cout two goal night, but it’s Shane Pinto. The Pinto Parlay says he’s Johnny on the spot in the final minutes to give Ottawa the lead and take it five to four. Every Atlantic division matchup is going to be a war this year with how close that division is. I really like the Suns depth and system, mostly because it mirrors that of Florida, but I think they can take another step here if Allark isn’t an utter disaster. Onto the marketing wet dream that is Columbus versus Nashville. After stroking a bunch of checks in free agency last year, the PRs became the most expensive retirement home in the league and it royally sucked. This year, everyone’s expecting them to be the same. But that’s why we play the games, ladies and gentlemen. Ryan O’Reilly goes top bunk where mama hides the cookies. Jussi Sorrowos was locked in stopping 37 to 38. Pres beat the Blue Jackets who are also looking to take a step this year, but they lose game one. Then send in the Juggernauts out west. Two teams who can win the Central and the Jets and Stars go at it for game one. Jets fans have a lot to be excited about though. Jonathan Ta makes his return to hockey after finding himself in India and Cal Connor signed an 8-year extension at 12 mil a season. Show that man the money and he comes right out to get a Hattie. The Stars had a 5-1 lead at one point in this game. Hella Buck IC is still in playoff mode. That’ll change as the season goes on, but the Jets fall short of the comeback as Dallas holds on to the win 5 to4. The Moose Miko Ranton had three points by the way. a full camp in Dallas and no contract distraction could mean a huge year for him. Speaking of contracts, Carroll Capriov will become the highest paid player in the NHL next season, making 17 million a year. Buddy better be figuring out the theory of relativity in Minnesota for that kind of money. But this is the type of game that makes you think, all right, maybe it ain’t all that bad. The Curillionaire puts up three assists on opening night. Brutal start for the Blues, who are one of the hottest teams in the league last season after the Four Nations. But the Wild look like defensive juggernauts that they were in the first 30 games of the previous year. Philip Gusson gets the shut out, wild win and postgame beers are certainly on Carell the thrill. It is also a new era in Utah. They retire their Premier League name in the Utah hockey club and they have officially become the mammoth. Utah was one of the best rush teams in the league last year. They have a ton of talent and the expectations is playoffs this year, but they got to start against the ABS. Dylan Gunther sets the tone for Utah, but the Nate Dog responds. That right there’s the gamewinner. Scotty Wedgwood. Whole lot of wood and net was lights out. 32 saves first star. ABS are looking dangerous out the gate here. On to Vancouver where there’s a lot to be excited about after a disastrous season last year. The locker room appears to be dramafree, but more importantly, Demco seems to be fully healthy and it showed tonight. Heedle also look great to Tux. How are you? 5-1 beatd down on the Flames. I like Vancouver to bounce back this year, especially if Hughes is also healthy for a full 82. That being said, there’s a lot of teams this season that could be way better than they were last year and one of them is the Ducks. New coach, kids are coming into their own. Becket Senaki is scoring his first NHL goal on his first shift. Things look good. Ducks could be fun this year, but Seattle is sick of being mid. Joey Dord 35 stops. New guy in town, Mason Marshman gets the game winner. Crack and win three to one. Good start for them. Then finally, it’s the 2026 Future Stanley Cup champion, San Jose Sharks going up against the Vegas Golden Knights. Buckle up for this. Sharks are up 3 to2 late in the third. They’re shutting down Vegas in the neutral zone. Empty cage. Sir William Mecklan. All he has to do is just put it home and he can’t do it. Gets a wraparound, but it’s stuffed. Ekeel comes the other way, is forced to dump it in. Nadulkovich goes to front it and oh no, the Vessa Tosscala special just bounces right by him. Vegas ties up the game off a dumping. That right there is our Seiki goal of the week. Just a snipe from center ice beer league style. The torture isn’t over yet for San Jose. To OT we go. Nadulkovich goes for the encore. Comes out to play the puck. Whoop! Caught with your pants down. He’s two to three business days away from the net. Riley Smith puts it in and the Sharks lose in the most Sharks way possible to end the first wild night of hockey in the NHL. Now, of course, like I said earlier, there was no games on Friday, which is absolutely ridiculous for the first week of hockey. So, here’s a picture of Gary Bman to represent Friday’s lack of hockey in general. However, that does mean that Saturday is absolutely bananas. 16 games, all 32 teams. You thought Thursday was packed? Well, get ready for this. Jets versus Kings kick us off and not even 10 minutes in, we’re throwing punches. Remember what I said about Hellbuck being in playoff form? Yep. He’s telling me to shut the hell up in this one. 30 saves. Mark Shley two tucks including the winner. Jets want to own the league again and this looked more like him from last year. Kings are already one and two. Everyone looked at their signings on D this off seasonason said yikes and so far it’s no bueno. Then a little midday action between the Flames and Blues. And how about this open net? The Wolfpack says here’s a paddle for you silly goose. Nice try, pal. But that’s an early save of the year candidate. Tell your neighbor about that one, but don’t bother telling Jake neighbors. He got two goals in this game and he helped St. Louis pick up their first dub on the season. Now, if you didn’t see, Sabres fans are already crashing out after getting shut out in game one. And I don’t blame them one bit. In the first 20 minutes against Boston, they outshot them 16 to1 in the first period. Holy smokes are they bad. They did score, but it didn’t matter. Boston ends as week one wagons going 3-0. That’s surprising. Turns out Tampa wants to be asleep at the wheel to start, too. Jersey was up three nothing by the end of the first in this one. Luke Hughes already has four points in two games. Devils take care of business and the Lightning allow five goals in back-to-back games. Bag skate coming up for the fellas. Meanwhile, the Rangers get to double dip with the Penguins. Mike Sullivan gets a tribute, holds back the Waterworks, and then says that’s enough. 6-1 Spanking as revenge for opening night. Adam Fox two goals. Shurken has been a wall so far. Only two goals allowed in his first three games. Start spreading the news. The Rangers could be back. Over on Long Island, Obie is back to absolutely trucking, guys. 250 of Russia Machine, buddy. He’s still looking for his first of the year, but not the kid. Matthew Schaefer just lurking in the weeds. He sees the loose puck. He goes sliding in with the diving Pocahontas. That’s his first career NHL goal. The Islands start chanting his name. What a week for the guy. He played 26 minutes in this game. Probably because the Islanders defense are so bad. But he’s looked fantastic to start his career. Caps win 4 to2 though. The Barouchian Bear Alexi protest with a tidy three-point performance. Then an original six matchup between the Habs and Hawks means let’s get physical. Frankie Nazar has been great early on, but then boom, northbound on the southbound freeway lookout. Clean hit. So in the modern NHL, that means everyone’s got to drop him. Two scraps going on at the same time. Everyone grab a guy, mix in a couple of chirps, and then keep her going. This one’s tied 2-2. In the dying seconds of the third, Spencer Knight loses his stick. Galie throws one on net. it finds a way and the Habs steal one. Side note, Zack Buluke for the Habs is looking like a steal early on this season. What a pick up for them. It is also unfortunate that I have to inform everyone that the Panthers are still an unstoppable force. They roll over the Senators 6-2, went three for five on the power play, and the godamn rack king Brad Marshon scores again. The Cats are dogs. They stay undefeated. Now, we may just be a game into the Red Wing season, but coach Tom Mlen decided to speedrun the inevitable team call out press conference. It is year 1,00 of the Eiser plan. Guys have been here forever, and now is the time to get going here. Down two nothing in the first. It’s a fantastic time to play the Maple Leafs. Patty Kane turns back the clock. Goal, two assists, comeback win. Parades canled in Toronto, but at least they got the Jays. And we didn’t even make it through one week and we already got our first goalie interference controversy. Bobby Brink takes it to the rink, buries the OT winner. Philly wins. Nope. Give Gary Bman a call. It’s goalie interference. Sanheim brushes Freddy. Goals called back. Seth Jarvis tucks and says, “Now you guys can leave.” And it’s just been a bad week for Philly sports teams. It’s time to check in on the soontobe richest man in hockey, the Carillionaire Capriov. Two goals and an assist, but he wasn’t even the best Carill in this game. Carill Marenko got a hattie for Columbus. He had a monster year last season and I expect more this year. The Blue Jackets offense was humming in this one. They put up seven against Minnesota in the win. Next up was the Ice Age matchup between the Mammoth versus Predators. Nashville’s roster is as old as the Ice Age and the youth of Utah shined. McBain, and then Dylan Gunther for the win. OT net drive and a nice little reminder for Sorrowos to close his damn legs. First win in Mammoth history. It’s also time for the return of the Moose. Last time Rantinon played his old team, he put up a hattie in game seven and sent them to Bora Bora for the summer. This one though, the big boys were again eating for the ass. NZ and McKinnon are a hard attack on skates. Those two operate at a completely different speed than everyone else on the ice. Three points each for them in this game. And yet somehow Jakeer was better. OT, he robs Nas with the leather. Shuts the door in the shootout. Has 35 saves on the night. And of course, the shootout winner ends up going to Mo Rantin. It’s the trade that keeps on haunting for Colorado. Now, personally, I haven’t been fired up for a Ducks versus Sharks game since 2014, but damn it, we’re back, baby. What an absolute barn burner we had here, folks. Back and forth trading goals. The PETA guy from Sausage Party and Chris Grider is now a duck and down by one. He gets his second of the night in the final minute to tie the game. It was 66 going into OT cuz why the hell not? Uncle Leo Carlson has a twoon one. He rips it so fast as doesn’t even move. That’s all she wrote because the Ducks fly together. Then on to Seattle where if you haven’t picked up Pavore if you have yet in fantasy hockey you are sleeping at the wheel. Guy scores again. He already has his fifth of the season. Every Vegas game so far this year has needed overtime but Jared McCann is home alone in front. Eats a trip from Marner while tucking one crack and win it. And then finally it was Vancouver versus Edmonton. Evander Kane comes back to play his old team and tells Regula, “Watch where you’re going, kiddo. Just levels him.” Also, we got to piss test some of these goalies in week one. Look at this on the doorstep. Leon Dryidle, the German surgeon, wide open net. That Demco says, “Nahuh.” Doing the dirty bird on his belly and everything. He just picks that one out of the air. This game could have been uglier if it wasn’t for Demco. 34 saves on 36 shots. But the Oilers find a way and Calvin Pickard picks up the first dub for Edmonton to end the first chaotic week of hockey. So, what did you think of week one? Who surprised you? Who pissed you off? Let us know in the comments down below. And if you’re new to the channel, we do these weekly recaps every single week. So, subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already. We also do breakdowns on teams and players throughout the week. So, keep an eye on the channel for that. And as always, we’ll see you in the next

#nhl #hockey #edmontonoilers
Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/HOCKEY2025 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount

We break down everything that happened in week 1 of the 2025/2026 NHL Season