NHL Recaps: Aleksander Barkov beats buzzer, Rangers dump Isles, and more preseason action
Anthony Scultore
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NHL Recaps: Monday, September 26, 2022
Aleksander Barkov provided an exciting finish to the Florida Panthers first game of a doubleheader with the Nashville Predators.
It was a great start to all the preseason action on the NHL schedule last night that included a sound win by the New York Rangers over their biggest rivals, the New York Islanders. Also on the winning side of their games were the Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, and St. Louis Blues.
NHL Recaps: Barkov’s preseason buzzer beater
Game 1: Panthers 4 vs Predators 3 (OT)
Paul Maurice sat behind his new bench as head coach of the Panthers and watched his captain Aleksander Barkov score with one second left in OT to beat the Predators.
“I know it’s an exhibition, but it’s always nicer to win,” said Barkov, who scored a team-high 39 goals last season. “You come into the room and it’s a good feeling. It’s good to build from that.”
Florida Panthers
Barkov also added an assist on the Panthers first goal to Eetu Luostarinen. Kai Schwindt and Ryan Lomberg were the other goal scorers for Florida. Mack Guzda and Sergei Bobrovsky combined for 22 saves.
Nashville got goals from Juuso Parssinen, Roland McKeown, and Ryan Johansen. Devin Cooley and Connor Ingram made 28 saves in the losing effort.
Game 2: Predators 4 vs Panthers 0
It was all Nashville in the second game where Filip Forsberg got the party started for Smashville. Cody Glass, Colton Sissons, and Tanner Jeannot also tallied with Matt Duchene and Mattias Ekholm notching two assists each. Ryan McDonagh, acquired in a salary cap dumping trade from Tampa Bay also picked up an assist. Jaroslav Askarov and Kevin Lankinen stopped all 25 Panthers shots.
Spencer Knight only let in 1 for Florida out of 20 shots. Alex Lyon struggled giving up 3 on 18 shots.
Rangers 4 vs Islanders 0
The Rangers handled the Islanders with relative ease at Madison Square Garden and it all stated with a power play goal by Jimmy Vesey, who is at camp on a PTO. Chris Kreider, K’Andre Miller, and Zac Jones also scored in the victory. Top prospect Brennan Othmann notched two assists, including a shorthanded helper on Miller’s goal. Igor Shesterkin stopped all 14 shots directed his way, and Dylan Garand allowed just 1 on 10 shots.
“I heard the fans (on the shorthanded goal) letting me know how much time I had on the clock,” Othmann said. “[K’Andre Miller] did a great job coming up the ice, I just threw it to his stick and he did the rest.”
Robin Salo broke the Rangers shutout bid with a seeing eye shot late in the second. Semyon Varlamov gave up all 4 goals on 20 shots. Jakub Skarek made 15 saves.
Devils 2 vs Canadiens 1
Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft made his Habs debut in a loss to the New Jersey Devils with 1 shot, 2 hits, and a 2 minute minor.
“It was great and I’m sure it will only be better and better, like when the season starts (Oct. 12), but it was great,” Slafkovsky said. “It was faster for sure, but those are little things. I will get used to it.
NHL.com
Cole Caufield got Montreal on the board first but the Devils scored two unanswered by Tomas Tatar and Graeme Clark for the win.
In goal, Jake Allen stopped all 18 shots which was a great sign after an injury plagued season. Cayden Primeau let 2 by him on 13 shots. Mackenzie Blackwood and Nico Daws combined for 20 saves.
NHL Recaps: Other Preseason Scores
Kraken 3 vs Oilers 0
Matty Beniers scored the first goal and eventual game-winner in a Seattle Kraken blanking of the Edmonton Oilers. Ryan Donato and Morgan Geekie also added markers in the contest with Martin Jones and Joey Daccord stopping 29 Oilers shots.
Blues 4 vs Stars 0
Josh Leivo scored twice and added an assist as the St. Louis Blues shut down the Dallas Stars. Thomas Greiss and Colten Ellis combined for 33 saves in the blanking. Newly acquired Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist played 21:51 and finished with a -1 rating.
Kings 2 vs Golden Knights 1 (OT)
Jack Eichel got Vegas on the board first but the tide eventually turned into a Kings win. Kevin Fiala tied it and then added the assist on Adrian Kempe’s PP OT winner.
The Kings got a scare when goalie Cal Petersen was forced to leave the game in the first period due to a lower-body injury. According to coach Todd McLellan it was simply precautionary.
