The first preseason game of the National Hockey League (NHL) occurred on Sept. 20 with a face off between the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars. With this game, teams started the count down to the regular season, hoping for their chance to come out victorious in this season’s Stanley Cup Finals. The 17 day preseason is an opportunity for players to develop their skills in a more realistic setting, coaches to evaluate new players alongside returners and ultimately allows for teams to prepare for the upcoming regular season.
The preseason opener between the Blues and the Stars was an exciting preview for the upcoming season, with a double overtime. Despite a slow start in the first period with zero goals scored, intensity picked up moving into the second with Blues’ right wing, Justin Carbonneau, scoring on the power play. Following up the big offensive play by the Blues, Stars’ right wing, Maverik Bourque, responded with a goal to tie the game moving into the final period. Another scoreless period resulted in a double overtime where Sam Steel, Stars center, scored in the shootout for a 2-1 victory for Dallas. Additionally, the Stars made 34 shots on goal and won 67.4% of faceoffs, compared to 15 shots on goal for the Blues.
Looking at another intense game from the beginning of the preseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 7-2. This Canadian rivalry resulted in Maple Leaf dominance, starting the game off with three goals in the first period. Although the Canadiens scored one goal in both the first and second periods, their efforts were not enough to push ahead of the strong Toronto offense. The Maple Leafs used their momentum from the first period to score two goals in both the second and third periods. Scott Laughton, Maple Leafs center, had an impressive performance, recording two goals and one assist. Alongside Laughton, Maple Leafs goaltender, David Hildeby, had 11 saves on 13 shots saving 84.6% of shots.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, faced off against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 21 in a doubleheader. The Predators dominated both games with 5-0 and 5-3 finals scores in favor of Nashville. Standout players included Erik Haula, Predators left wing, scoring two goals and goaltenders, Matt Murray and Justus Annunen, having a shutout with 27 saves combined in their 5-0 victory.
With the tough competition in the preseason, there is no doubt that the 2025-2026 season will be exciting for both fans in the arena and those tuning in at home. The regular season is scheduled to start on Oct. 7 with a showdown between the Panthers and the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans can view games on platforms such as ESPN+, Hulu and several broadcasting platforms like ABC and TNT.
