Igor Shesterkin turned aside 37 shots as the Rangers opened the season with a 4-0 win in Buffalo, with Alex Lafrenière’s early goal proving decisive. New York finally found secondary scoring late, as J.T. Miller, Carson Soucy and Adam Fox added goals in the final 5:14 to seal it. The coach change in New York paid off on night one, and the club’s defense looked stingy behind Shesterkin’s standout performance.

Buffalo, beset by injuries and an IR-limited lineup, was shut out despite 29 saves from Alex Lyon. Luukkonen is out, Power/Kesselring/Benson were unavailable, and the Sabres must weather the early schedule until Luukkonen returns. Rangers head to Pittsburgh next, while Buffalo visits Boston. Shesterkin’s 22nd career shutout signals a strong baseline for fantasy managers this season.

Injury and lineup notes ripple through the NHL, with Luukkonen re-aggravating a lower-body issue for Buffalo and Huberdeau among those being evaluated in Calgary. Kotkaniemi also sidelined by a stick-to-face incident but nearing return. Vlasic, Hart, Varlamov, and Lee provide goaltending and lineup updates shaping early-season depth charts. Namestnikov, Toews, Batherson, Eller, Jensen, Rust, and others surface in practice or status updates, signaling streaming and matchup considerations for fantasy managers this week.

Rumors swirl around Hutson, McLeod, Hart, and Markstrom, hinting at potential roster moves or extension talks that could alter upside in the near term. Namestnikov practicing with Winnipeg, Toews listed day-to-day, and Batherson skating keep watch on several teams’ depth and PP time as injuries create opportunities. Overall, the note pack emphasizes timing of returns and which players could emerge as fantasy differences if healthy.

Fantasy takeaway: monitor status updates and practice reports closely, as even minor timing shifts can open or close top-line and power-play opportunities. The mix of returns, evaluations, and rumours suggests flexible rostering and opportunistic adds over the next several days.

Buffalo earned a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh in a lively preseason clash in Buffalo. Tristan Broz opened the scoring on a Penguins power play, Buffalo answered with a dynamic sequence from Krebs to Norris, and Matt Dumba and Filip Hallander added to a back-and-forth first half. Ville Koivunen struck again to reset the momentum, and Rasmus Dahlin punctuated Buffalo’s pace before Hallander iced it with an empty-net clincher.

Silovs impressed in goal for Pittsburgh, Luukkonen exited with a lower-body issue for Buffalo, and the night underscored growth from Penguins youngsters like Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke. Owen Pickering and Jack St. Ivany flashed potential while questions about who earns an opening-night roster spot lingered, especially with Broz and Hayes showcasing versatile, high-energy games.