Buffalo Sabres © Instagram / buffalosabres
The NHL preseason kicked off with a bang on Saturday, September 21st, with three exciting matchups. Here’s a quick rundown of the action:
Buffalo Sabres (7) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (3):
- In a triumphant return, coach Lindy Ruff led the Buffalo Sabres to a dominant 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Rookie JJ Peterka stole the show with a dazzling hat trick, showcasing his offensive prowess.
- Henri Jokiharju chipped in with a goal and two assists, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen held strong in net with 15 saves.
- Despite a valiant effort from Jesse Puljujarvi, who scored a hat trick of his own for the Penguins, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Sabres’ offensive firepower.
Dallas Stars (2) vs. St. Louis Blues (1):
- The Dallas Stars edged out the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1 in their preseason opener.
- Kyle Capobianco and Colin Blackwell found the net for the Stars, while Casey DeSmith and Magnus Hellberg combined for a solid performance in goal.
- The Blues’ lone goal came off the stick of Kasperi Kapanen, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Stars’ defensive efforts.
- A scare occurred when Stars’ forward Mason Marchment left the game after blocking a shot, but X-rays later revealed no serious injury.
Minnesota Wild (5) vs. Winnipeg Jets (2):
- The Minnesota Wild skated away with a convincing 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in their first preseason game.
- Goalie Jesper Wallstedt impressed with a stellar 35-save performance, shutting down the Jets’ offense.
- The Wild’s offense was well-distributed, with five different players contributing goals. Caedan Bankier, Daemon Hunt, Graeme Clarke, Jakub Lauko, and Ben Jones all found the net.
- Despite goals from Colin Miller and Colby Barlow, the Jets couldn’t keep pace with the Wild’s offensive onslaught.
These early preseason games offer a glimpse into what each team may have in store for the upcoming regular season. Stay tuned for more exciting NHL preseason action!
