NHL Update Oct 9, 2026: Avs Hand Flames Fourth Loss; Oilers Eye Sharks
Happy Friday, Alberta! It's been a rough couple of nights down south on Highway 2, while up north the Oilers are tuning up in California with some reinforcements on the way. Here's everything you need to know from the last 48 hours around the NHL.
League Roundup
Thursday was a busy night across the league, with nine games on the board.
Carolina 7, Vancouver 2: The Hurricanes piled it on the Canucks in Raleigh.
Boston 6, Utah 1: The Bruins rolled at home.
Dallas 4, Buffalo 0: The Stars blanked the Sabres on the road.
Nashville 5, Montreal 2: The Predators spoiled the night at the Bell Centre.
San Jose 3, St. Louis 2 (OT): Former Oiler Darnell Nurse scored his first goal as a Shark, the overtime winner, according to the Edmonton Journal.
Vegas 4, Toronto 3: The Golden Knights edged the Leafs.
Also Thursday: Ottawa 2, Philadelphia 1; Tampa Bay 3, Minnesota 2; NY Islanders 4, Chicago 1.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers (3-0-1) are in San Jose after Wednesday's 5-2 comeback win in Anaheim, and the injury news is finally trending the right way.
Zach Hyman practised with the team Friday for the first time since the season opener, but he was in a non-regular sweater. "He wasn't in a regular sweater today, so I assume he's not playing tomorrow," head coach Mike Babcock said. Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now has floated Tuesday in Los Angeles as a possible return date.
"Good skate. First skate with the group in a little bit," Hyman said. "So, I'm getting there and it's always good to skate with the guys."
Newcomer Filip Hallander, acquired from Pittsburgh on Wednesday for defenceman Spencer Stastney, joined his new team for his first practice. NHL.com's projected lineup has him jumping straight onto the second line with Jason Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen, with Trent Frederic and Shakir Mukhamadullin projected as scratches.
In goal, Tristan Jarry gets the call Saturday in San Jose, sticking with the plan the club laid out earlier this week after Devon Levi's 29-save night in Anaheim.
Still on the shelf: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body), Matt Savoie, Colton Dach and Frederik Andersen, among others.
And Saturday has a storyline built in: Darnell Nurse faces the Oilers for the first time since leaving Edmonton after 11 seasons, fresh off that OT winner against St. Louis.
Calgary Flames
It's getting heavy in Calgary. The Flames fell 7-3 to the Colorado Avalanche at the Saddledome on Thursday and are now 0-4-0.
Cale Makar, a Calgary product, had two goals and an assist in his hometown, Nathan MacKinnon added a goal and two assists, and Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz each scored twice for Colorado. Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves.
There were some bright spots. Adam Klapka tied it 1-1 late in the first with a slick toe-drag around Josh Manson, and Jonathan Castagna picked up an assist on it in his NHL debut. "That was crazy," Castagna said. Mikael Backlund and Kevin Bahl added third-period goals, and Devin Cooley made 23 saves.
"It's obviously really tough and hard and frustrating to lose again," Backlund said. "We've got to learn from it, find a way to play a really solid 60 (minutes). We haven't done that yet and it's time we do that on Saturday."
Head coach Ryan Huska said the group would "revisit things" at Friday's practice, pushing the players harder where they need to be better while recognizing the good things they've done. The Avalanche have now earned a point in 12 straight games against Calgary (11-0-1).
What's Next
Saturday, Oct 10: Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 2 p.m. MT (Sportsnet)
Saturday, Oct 10: Anaheim Ducks at Flames, 8 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Oct 13: Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 7:45 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Oct 13: Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 8:30 p.m. MT
Stay tuned to Alberta Radio for all your Oilers and Flames coverage. Go Alberta!
