NEW YORK, United States, September 25, 2026: The NHL preseason delivered its sharpest warning yet that four exhibition games leave very little room for quiet auditions.
Carolina recovered from a 5-1 deficit by scoring five unanswered goals, including Felix Unger Sorum’s winner with three seconds remaining. San Jose answered an Anaheim team that had beaten it four days earlier by crushing the Ducks 10-0 behind an Ivar Stenberg hat trick. Vegas needed a Tomas Hertl equalizer in the final minute before Jack Eichel finished Utah in overtime.
Across an 11-game Thursday slate, three games required overtime or a shootout, three teams recorded shutouts, prospects forced themselves deeper into roster conversations, and established players used their limited preseason appearances to test combinations before the regular season begins September 29.
The compressed schedule is one of the defining changes entering the new campaign, as The Sports Encounter explained in its complete 2026-27 NHL season preview.
TL;DR: What Defined the September 24 NHL Preseason?
- Carolina scored five unanswered goals to turn a 5-1 deficit into a 6-5 win over Nashville.
- Ivar Stenberg scored three goals and added an assist as San Jose demolished Anaheim 10-0.
- Jack Eichel scored the overtime winner after Tomas Hertl saved Vegas from defeat in the final minute.
- Florida’s youngsters and newcomers beat a more experienced Tampa Bay lineup 5-3.
- Joseph Woll, Cam Talbot and Jordan Binnington all finished on the winning side of shutouts.
- Edmonton’s younger lineup beat a near full-strength Vancouver team 2-1.
- The Rangers erased a 2-0 deficit before Will Cuylle decided the shootout against New Jersey.
NHL Preseason Results for September 24, 2026
The official NHL preseason roundup confirmed the night’s results and major individual performances.
| Matchup | Result | Defining Story |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes | Hurricanes 6-5 | Carolina scores five straight after trailing 5-1 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets | Blue Jackets 4-0 | Valeri Nichushkin scores in Columbus debut; Cam Talbot records shutout |
| New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers | Rangers 4-3 SO | Will Cuylle completes comeback with shootout winner |
| Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings | Red Wings 3-2 OT | Alex DeBrincat strikes 33 seconds into overtime |
| Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers | Flyers 2-0 | Joseph Woll stops all 28 shots |
| Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning | Panthers 5-3 | Cole Reinhardt restores Florida’s lead six seconds after Tampa ties |
| Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues | Blues 1-0 | Jordan Binnington shuts out Chicago in Patrick Kane’s preseason debut |
| Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks | Oilers 2-1 | Isaac Howard records a goal and assist against a strong Vancouver lineup |
| Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken | Kraken 4-3 SO | Seattle erases a 3-1 deficit and wins the shootout |
| Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights | Golden Knights 5-4 OT | Tomas Hertl ties it late before Jack Eichel wins it |
| Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks | Sharks 10-0 | Ivar Stenberg scores a hat trick and adds an assist |
How Did Carolina Turn a 5-1 Deficit Into a 6-5 Win?
Nashville had done enough through the opening 28 minutes to make the game look finished.
Vitali Pinchuk, Cole O’Hara and Jonathan Marchessault built a 3-0 first-period lead. Logan Stankoven briefly interrupted the Predators’ momentum, but Adam Edstrom and Jack Drury responded to push Nashville ahead 5-1 with 11:36 remaining in the second period.
Edstrom’s contribution was another small piece of evidence for the role Nashville hoped he could fill when it acquired the 6-foot-7 forward from New York, a move The Sports Encounter examined in its Adam Edstrom trade analysis.
Then Carolina changed the game completely.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi reduced the deficit to 5-2. Juha Jaaska made it 5-3 before the second intermission. Juuso Valimaki’s power-play goal brought the Hurricanes within one midway through the third.
Stankoven scored his second with 1:24 remaining to tie the game.
Carolina still was not finished.
Felix Unger Sorum entered the right circle in the closing seconds and beat Justus Annunen with a wrist shot to complete the 6-5 comeback with only three seconds left.
The Hurricanes’ official recap confirmed that Carolina scored five consecutive goals after falling four behind.
For the defending champions, the result connected to an identity already familiar from their run to the Cup. The Sports Encounter followed that journey through Carolina’s Stanley Cup-clinching victory over Vegas.
The value of Thursday’s comeback is not the preseason win itself. Carolina’s younger and depth players spent more than half a game dealing with failure, then solved it without the standings providing any incentive to chase the result. Coaches notice that kind of response.
Ivar Stenberg Turned San Jose’s Rematch With Anaheim Upside Down
Four days can completely change the conversation around a prospect.
On September 20, Anaheim beat San Jose 6-2 as Beckett Sennecke scored a hat trick, one of the standout performances in The Sports Encounter’s earlier NHL preseason analysis.
The rematch was almost unrecognizable.
San Jose scored five times in the first period, twice in the second and three more times in the third for a 10-0 victory at SAP Center.
Ivar Stenberg, selected No. 2 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, scored once in every period and added an assist. The 18-year-old finished with four points and supplied the clearest individual statement of Thursday’s slate.
The two San Jose-Anaheim exhibitions therefore produced wildly different pictures. Anaheim won the first meeting by four goals. San Jose won the rematch by 10.
That 14-goal swing illustrates why preseason results require context. Rosters change dramatically from one night to another, but individual performances still matter when a highly drafted teenager repeatedly creates offense against the competition placed in front of him.
Why Jack Eichel’s Overtime Winner Was Only the End of Vegas’ Escape
Utah came within less than a minute of handing Vegas its first preseason defeat.
The Mammoth recovered from Victor Olofsson’s opening goal through Zac Jones and Liam O’Brien late in the first period, then Artem Duda made it 3-1 during the second.
Vegas responded in the third through Jeremy Lauzon and Mark Stone, only for Tomas Lavoie to put Utah back ahead 4-3 with 1:31 remaining.
The game changed again almost immediately.
Tomas Hertl converted Mitch Marner’s backdoor feed to tie the score before regulation expired. Jack Eichel then beat Sebastian Cossa with a wrist shot less than a minute into overtime.
The Golden Knights’ official game report confirmed that the victory moved Vegas to 3-0 in preseason play.
Vegas spent June on the wrong side of the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina. Its response to another late-game pressure situation will not erase that result, but a veteran group featuring Eichel, Stone, Hertl and Marner showed the composure expected from a contender.
Florida’s Young Lineup Gave Paul Maurice a Better Problem to Solve
Florida traveled to Tampa with a lineup consisting largely of youngsters and newcomers. The Lightning used many more established players, including Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Panthers won 5-3 anyway.
Cole Reinhardt and Kai Schwindt each recorded a goal and an assist. The decisive sequence arrived early in the third period after Jansen Harkins scored his second goal to bring Tampa Bay level at 3-3.
Only six seconds later, Reinhardt forced a turnover in front and beat Vasilevskiy to restore Florida’s lead.
That response probably carries more evaluation value than the final two-goal margin.
Florida’s preseason has repeatedly produced evidence from players competing below the established core. Earlier in camp, Brady Tkachuk’s debut and other roster tests showed how aggressively the Panthers are using these four games to evaluate combinations and depth.
Three Shutouts Created Three Different Goaltending Stories
Thursday produced shutouts in Columbus, Philadelphia and St. Louis.
Joseph Woll Gives Philadelphia a 28-Save Answer
Woll stopped all 28 Boston shots as Philadelphia won 2-0. Matvei Michkov opened the scoring in the first period, while Cole Knuble added the insurance goal early in the third.
Knuble’s preseason continues to matter because he remains in a genuine roster fight. A goal from a player competing for NHL employment carries a different weight from an established veteran simply getting his timing back.
Cam Talbot Shuts Down Pittsburgh as Nichushkin Scores in His Columbus Debut
Columbus beat Pittsburgh 4-0 behind Talbot’s shutout and goals from Zach Werenski, Valeri Nichushkin, Danton Heinen and Kirill Marchenko.
Nichushkin’s goal came in his first game for the Blue Jackets after his offseason move from Colorado.
Pittsburgh used a young lineup and was shut out, another evaluation point for an organization already trying to manage the transition around its veteran core. The Sports Encounter examined that longer-term roster question when Tommy Novak signed his three-year extension.
Patrick Kane Returns, but St. Louis Keeps Chicago Off the Board
Patrick Kane made his first preseason appearance since returning to the Blackhawks, but Chicago lost 1-0 to St. Louis.
Calle Rosen scored the only goal early in the third period, while Jordan Binnington completed the shutout.
Kane’s second chapter with Chicago began when he signed a two-year contract in July, a reunion The Sports Encounter covered in Patrick Kane’s return to the Blackhawks.
For Chicago, the more useful preseason question remains how Kane fits alongside a younger core rather than whether he scored in one exhibition game.
Will Cuylle Turned a Rangers Comeback Into More Than a Scoreline
New Jersey built a 2-0 advantage through Stefan Noesen and Ethan Edwards and carried that lead into the third period.
The Rangers then scored three unanswered goals.
Cuylle began the comeback, Anton Blidh tied the game and Scott Morrow put New York ahead. Amadeus Lombardi rescued the Devils with 1:39 left in regulation, sending the game through overtime and into a shootout.
Cuylle was the only player to convert.
He finished with a goal, an assist and the shootout winner, while Joonas Korpisalo stopped all three New Jersey attempts.
For a Rangers team that has emphasized better starts entering the season, the first 40 minutes remain worth examining. The positive came from the response, particularly from players fighting to clarify their roles before final cuts.
Alex DeBrincat Needed 33 Overtime Seconds to Finish Detroit’s Comeback
Buffalo twice took the lead against Detroit.
Trevor Kuntar opened the scoring before Axel Sandin-Pellikka answered on the power play. Jiri Kulich restored Buffalo’s advantage 33 seconds into the second period, but Sheldon Dries tied the game midway through the third.
Detroit then received an overtime power play.
DeBrincat needed only 33 seconds of the extra period to finish Lucas Raymond’s feed with a one-timer from the left circle.
Buffalo goaltender Alex Lyon had left the game late in the first period after diving forward to collect a loose puck. No diagnosis should be inferred from the sequence without further official medical information.
Edmonton’s Younger Lineup Passed a More Difficult Test in Vancouver
Edmonton’s 2-1 victory over Vancouver carried a different kind of preseason value.
The Oilers brought a less experienced group to Rogers Arena against a Canucks lineup much closer to regular-season strength.
Isaac Howard scored 3:58 into the first period and later created Quinn Hutson’s goal early in the second. Howard finished with a goal and an assist, while Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots.
Vancouver scored on the power play shortly after Hutson made it 2-0, but Edmonton protected the lead for the final 34 minutes.
The Oilers improved to 3-0 in preseason play.
That record will disappear once the regular season starts. Howard’s ability to produce against stronger opposition is more useful information for Edmonton’s coaches as they reduce the roster.
Seattle’s Comeback Turned Calgary’s Young-Lineup Lead Into a Shootout Loss
Calgary carried a 3-1 advantage into the third period despite sending a lineup short on NHL experience to Seattle.
Jonathan Castagna, Rory Kerins and Aydar Suniev supplied the Flames’ goals, with Suniev scoring his team-leading third of the preseason.
Seattle’s response came through the defense and its more established forwards.
Brandon Montour and Ryker Evans helped drive the third-period comeback, while Matty Beniers assisted on both goals that brought Seattle level. Beniers and Berkly Catton then converted in the shootout, with Philipp Grubauer helping finish the 4-3 victory.
Calgary still received what preseason exists to provide: evidence from players trying to force their way into deeper organizational plans.
Which Performances Mattered Most on Thursday?
| Player | Team | Performance | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivar Stenberg | San Jose Sharks | 3 goals, 1 assist | The No. 2 pick turned a rivalry rematch into a major prospect statement |
| Logan Stankoven | Carolina Hurricanes | 2 goals | Scored the first Carolina goal and the late equalizer in a four-goal comeback |
| Felix Unger Sorum | Carolina Hurricanes | Game-winning goal | Completed the comeback with three seconds remaining |
| Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights | OT winner | Finished Vegas’ second comeback of the third period |
| Cole Reinhardt | Florida Panthers | 1 goal, 1 assist | Scored six seconds after Tampa Bay had tied the game |
| Will Cuylle | New York Rangers | 1 goal, 1 assist, shootout winner | Drove New York’s recovery from a 2-0 deficit |
| Isaac Howard | Edmonton Oilers | 1 goal, 1 assist | Produced against a much more NHL-ready Vancouver lineup |
| Joseph Woll | Philadelphia Flyers | 28-save shutout | Turned Boston away throughout Philadelphia’s 2-0 win |
What Thursday’s Results Actually Mean Before NHL Final Cuts
The NHL’s new preseason structure makes these games more useful when viewed as evaluations rather than miniature regular-season standings.
Teams have only four exhibitions during the September 19-26 preseason window before the 84-game regular season begins September 29.
That leaves coaches with fewer opportunities to test prospects, new combinations, backup goaltenders and depth players under game conditions.
Thursday therefore provided several pieces of information that can survive the disappearance of the preseason scores.
Stenberg is making San Jose’s roster decision increasingly interesting. Howard handled a stronger Vancouver lineup. Reinhardt made another case for Florida. Knuble kept himself relevant in Philadelphia. Cuylle influenced every phase of the Rangers’ comeback. Carolina’s depth group refused to let a four-goal deficit become a lost night.
There are also caution signs.
Nashville allowed five consecutive goals after building a four-goal lead. Anaheim conceded 10 only four days after beating the same opponent. Pittsburgh generated nothing against Columbus. New Jersey turned a 2-0 lead into a third-period chase.
None of those results predicts what happens once the regular season starts. They give coaching staffs specific sequences to study before decisions become permanent.
That is where preseason hockey earns its value.
What NHL Preseason Games Come Next?
The schedule moves into its final two days before the regular season begins.
Friday’s slate includes Boston at Washington, the Rangers at the Islanders, Dallas at Minnesota and Winnipeg at Colorado. Saturday closes the preseason with 13 games, including return meetings between Carolina and Nashville, Tampa Bay and Florida, St. Louis and Chicago, Columbus and Detroit, Calgary and Edmonton, and San Jose and Vegas.
Those rematches matter because several teams will move much closer to opening-night lineups.
For continuing scores, roster decisions, contracts, player performances and analysis, follow The Sports Encounter’s NHL Hub and latest NHL coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the NHL preseason results on September 24, 2026?
Carolina beat Nashville 6-5, Columbus defeated Pittsburgh 4-0, the Rangers beat New Jersey 4-3 in a shootout, Detroit defeated Buffalo 3-2 in overtime, Philadelphia beat Boston 2-0, Florida defeated Tampa Bay 5-3, St. Louis beat Chicago 1-0, Edmonton defeated Vancouver 2-1, Seattle beat Calgary 4-3 in a shootout, Vegas defeated Utah 5-4 in overtime and San Jose beat Anaheim 10-0.
How did the Hurricanes come back against the Predators?
Carolina trailed 5-1 midway through the second period before scoring five consecutive goals. Logan Stankoven tied the game with 1:24 remaining and Felix Unger Sorum scored the winner with three seconds left.
Who scored a hat trick for the San Jose Sharks?
Ivar Stenberg scored once in each period and added an assist in San Jose’s 10-0 win over Anaheim.
Who won the Vegas Golden Knights game against Utah?
Vegas won 5-4 in overtime. Tomas Hertl tied the game late in regulation and Jack Eichel scored the overtime winner.
How did Joseph Woll perform against Boston?
Woll stopped all 28 shots he faced as Philadelphia shut out Boston 2-0.
Who scored the shootout winner for the Rangers against the Devils?
Will Cuylle scored the only goal of the shootout after recording a goal and an assist during regulation.
How did Isaac Howard play against Vancouver?
Howard scored Edmonton’s opening goal and assisted Quinn Hutson’s second goal in the Oilers’ 2-1 victory.
Did Patrick Kane play for the Blackhawks?
Yes. Kane made his 2026 preseason debut in Chicago’s 1-0 loss to St. Louis.
When does the 2026-27 NHL regular season begin?
The regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Why is the 2026 NHL preseason so important for roster decisions?
Teams have only four preseason games in the compressed schedule, leaving fewer exhibition opportunities to evaluate prospects, depth players, new signings and lineup combinations before opening night.