Ottawa Senators 2-1 Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers (0-2-2) were one of three teams entering Thursday without a win in 2026/27, but against the Ottawa Senators (2-1-0), the Flyers showed fight early behind the second goal of the season from Matvei Michkov. However, it was the Senators got on the board first through Nick Cousins, with the team entering the third period tied at 1-1.
For the most part, this was a matchup that was tight and physical for two teams with post-season hopes in 2026/27, but late in the third, it was Carter Yakemchuk with a key goal that put the team up 2-1 with little time left to play. That one ended up being the difference maker, with Ottawa moving to 3-1-0 on the year with a hard fought 2-1 victory at home over a very game Flyers team that now fall to 0-3-2.
Boston Bruins 6-1 Utah Mammoth
The Utah Mammoth (3-1-0) have been full of offense early in 2026/27, but on Thursday, they ran into the Boston Bruins (2-2-0), and while they've been up-and-down early in the year, with the home team hitting their strides early. In both the first and second period, Boston netted three goals, taking them out to a 6-0 lead on the back of a double from David Pastrnak and four other goal scorers.
Clearly, this game was over heading into the third, and while the Mammoth got a consolation goal from Jack McBain, it was the Bruins that cruised to a 6-1 victory as Boston make a major statement with their offense on Thursday.
Dallas Stars 4-0 Buffalo Sabres
The Dallas Stars (1-2-0) have been off to a very slow start this year, and on Thursday things didn't get easier against the Buffalo Sabres (2-1-0), but in the second period, the team rode goals from Rantanen, Hintz and Steel to get them to 4-0 on the road against the Sabres.
While the Sabres pushed hard in the third period, it simply wasn't their night offensively as the team didn't manage to score on 26 shots as it was the Stars that got back to 2-2-0 on the season with a 4-0 shutout on the back of a fantastic performance from Jake Oettinger.
Nashville Predators 5-2 Montreal Canadiens
Not every game on Thursday has been one-sided, with the Montreal Canadiens (1-1-1) and Nashville Predators (1-1-1) each tallying two goals in the second period to head into the final frame of the night tied at 2-2, with both looking to find some genuine momentum early in the year.
While Montreal fought hard from there, it was all Nashville in the third period, with goals to Ryan O'Reilly and two to Adam Edstrom finishing off what was a dominant period as the Predators came out on top, winning this one by a score of 5-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild (2-0-1) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-0) both have lofty expectations in 2026/27, and in this clash, there was nothing but physicality and offensive talent on display for arguably the best contest of the night thus far. Heading into the third period, Quinn Hughes and Blake Coleman scored for Minnesota with John Carlsson and Anthony Cirelli notching goals for the Lightning, but in the third, it was Carlsson's second that put Tampa Bay up 3-2 in a tight clash.
Despite pushing hard, Minnesota couldn't find the game tying goal, and now, Tampa Bay sit at 3-1-0 on the season as they come away victorious against the Wild in a very brutal contest.
Carolina Hurricanes 7-2 Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0) have been surprisingly competitive early in 2026/27, but on Thursday, they found themselves matched up with the defending Champion Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1), and at home, the 'Canes were feeling themselves. Like Boston, Carolina had three goals in each of the first two periods, with Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven both having two to get the team out to a 6-1 lead at the end of two.
The Hurricanes didn't take their foot off the gas however, as the third period saw Stankoven finish off the first hat-trick of his NHL career as Carolina continued to pile on at home. For the Canucks, all the offense came from Jake DeBrusk who had two goals of his own, and after putting up some big totals of their own early in the year, the competition was too much to overcome here.
In the end, the Hurricanes picked up their third win of the season in very comfortable fashion 7-2, and with the team still not at full healthy, that could be a scary sign for the rest of the NHL.
New York Islanders 4-1 Chicago Blackhawks
Neither the New York Islanders (1-2-0) or the Chicago Blackhawks (1-3-0) have got off to great starts in 2026/27, but on Thursday, one had to pick up a key victory as they look to take a huge leap forward this season. In this matchup, it was virtually all Islanders at home, with two goals to captain Bo Horvat leading the way for New York as they posted 2 goals in the second period to go up 3-0.
The final frame was a tight one, but with Ilya Sorokin stopping all but one of the 23 shots he saw on the evening, it was the Islanders that ended up cruising to a victory as they get back to 2-2-0 on the season with the solid 4-1 win on home ice.