NEW YORK, United States, September 26, 2026: Four games made up Friday night’s NHL preseason schedule, but the small slate carried unusually large consequences for teams running out of exhibition minutes before the 2026-27 regular season.
T.J. Hughes scored a hat trick and added an assist as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. Tyler Seguin returned from a torn ACL as the Dallas Stars completed a perfect preseason with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. The New York Rangers overwhelmed the Islanders 6-1 in their final tune-up, while the Washington Capitals turned three power-play goals into a 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins.
The scores tell only part of the story. Friday was increasingly about decisions. Which combinations are ready? Which roster bubble players have done enough? Which veterans look prepared for meaningful hockey? And which preseason warning signs still need attention before the regular season begins September 29?
The Sports Encounter has followed those questions throughout the shortened exhibition schedule through its NHL coverage, NHL Hub and our wider 2026-27 NHL season preview.
NHL Preseason Results for September 25, 2026
| Game | Result | Defining Story |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals | Capitals 3-2 OT | Washington scores all three goals on the power play; Jordan Kyrou wins it 11 seconds into overtime |
| New York Rangers at New York Islanders | Rangers 6-1 | Six different Rangers score and Adam Fox records three assists |
| Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild | Stars 2-1 | Tyler Seguin returns; Casey DeSmith protects Dallas’ perfect preseason |
| Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche 5-2 | T.J. Hughes scores a hat trick and adds an assist |
Earlier in the preseason, young players were already benefiting from the NHL’s compressed evaluation window, a trend examined in TSE’s report on Brady Tkachuk, Beckett Sennecke and the league’s early roster decisions. Friday pushed that process much closer to its conclusion.
Why T.J. Hughes’ Hat Trick May Matter More Than Colorado’s 5-2 Win
Colorado’s result reversed a 3-1 loss to Winnipeg earlier in the week, but the name coaches will remember from the rematch is T.J. Hughes.
The 24-year-old produced three goals and an assist at Ball Arena, giving Colorado exactly the kind of late-camp problem teams want: a player outside the safest part of the roster making himself increasingly difficult to remove.
Hughes began the game at center alongside Gavin Brindley and Jaden Schwartz before coach Jared Bednar eventually shifted him back to the wing. His positional flexibility matters almost as much as the four points. A bubble player who can contribute offensively while giving the coaching staff options at multiple forward positions carries additional value when final roster spots are scarce.
The game also brought Colorado’s established stars closer to regular-season rhythm. Cale Makar scored as the Avalanche recovered from a 2-1 deficit and pulled away with four consecutive goals.
Winnipeg had won the first meeting between the clubs 3-1, so the reversal gave Colorado another useful test of how a stronger lineup could change the matchup. For the Jets, the loss completed their preseason and turned attention toward final roster decisions and an offseason still carrying larger questions around the organization, including the situation TSE examined in its analysis of Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request.
Colorado still has one exhibition game remaining, at Utah on September 26. For Hughes, Friday may already have been the most important audition of his camp.
What Did the Rangers’ 6-1 Rout Reveal Before Opening Night?
The Rangers entered UBS Arena having lost 4-3 to the Islanders three nights earlier. Their response looked much closer to a final rehearsal than another experimental preseason game.
Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring before J.T. Miller converted on the power play. Tye Kartye, Gabe Perreault and Will Cuylle stretched the lead to 5-0 through two periods, and Mika Zibanejad added another power-play goal early in the third.
Six different scorers mattered. So did the distribution of production.
Adam Fox finished with three assists. Miller contributed a goal and an assist. Zibanejad scored on the power play. Perreault found the net. Igor Shesterkin stopped 15 of 16 shots before Pierre Engvall denied him the shutout.
The Rangers therefore received contributions from stars, established forwards and players still establishing where they belong in the lineup.
That mixture has been developing since the offseason, when New York created more room in its forward competition by moving Adam Edstrom to Nashville. TSE previously examined the roster logic behind the Rangers’ Adam Edstrom trade.
Friday provided evidence of what some of that flexibility can look like on the ice.
The Islanders had beaten New York at Madison Square Garden earlier in the week, but were overwhelmed in the rematch. The Rangers finished their preseason with consecutive victories and now head directly toward their September 29 regular-season opener in Boston.
Why Tyler Seguin’s Return Was Bigger Than Dallas’ Perfect Record
Dallas finished its exhibition schedule 4-0, but the most consequential development in Minnesota involved a player who did not record the winning goal.
Tyler Seguin played his first game since tearing the ACL in his right knee on December 2. He underwent surgery on December 16 and spent the following months working toward a return that arrived just before the regular season.
That made Friday an important physical and psychological checkpoint.
Radek Faksa gave Dallas a first-period lead before Joel Eriksson Ek tied the game for Minnesota early in the second. Thomas Harley restored the Stars’ advantage late in the period, and Casey DeSmith protected it the rest of the way.
DeSmith stopped 26 of Minnesota’s 27 shots, while Dallas won despite producing only 18 shots of its own. That is a useful reminder of why preseason records need context. The Stars were outshot, did not overwhelm Minnesota territorially, and still found enough finishing and goaltending to close the game.
The closing minutes became increasingly physical, with multiple confrontations and fighting penalties. That edge was perhaps unsurprising between Central Division opponents who met in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and had already played one another two nights earlier.
Dallas had beaten Minnesota 2-0 in that first preseason meeting. Completing the sweep and finishing 4-0 creates momentum, but Seguin getting through his return is the development that can affect the Stars long after exhibition results disappear from memory.
Dallas opens its regular season against St. Louis on October 2.
How Washington’s Power Play Changed the Bruins’ Final Rehearsal
Boston showed enough resilience to turn a 2-0 deficit into overtime, but Washington found a more repeatable reason for optimism.
The Capitals scored all three of their goals on the power play.
Dylan Strome opened the scoring late in the first period. Tom Wilson doubled the lead early in the second. Boston finally responded in the third through Morgan Geekie before David Pastrnak’s power-play goal tied the game.
Then came the decisive mistake.
Hampus Lindholm’s late holding penalty carried into overtime. Washington needed only 11 seconds of the extra period for Jordan Kyrou to convert the advantage and end the game 3-2.
Washington also held a 35-22 advantage in shots, while Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 of the 35 he faced for Boston.
The important Washington context was who did not play. Alex Ovechkin remained out as the Capitals continued to take a cautious approach with his lower-body issue. He had returned to practice, but the club decided against using him in either of its final two preseason games.
That makes the performance of Washington’s other established forwards more useful. Strome, Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kyrou were able to work through meaningful special-teams situations without the captain in the lineup.
Boston’s third-period response was encouraging, particularly after two scoreless periods. The concern was the sequence that decided the game: a late penalty immediately punished in overtime.
Which Team Took the Most From Friday’s NHL Preseason Games?
Colorado produced the night’s strongest individual roster statement through Hughes.
The Rangers delivered the most complete opening-night rehearsal.
Dallas received the most important health development with Seguin back in game action.
Washington produced the clearest special-teams evidence by scoring three power-play goals against a Boston lineup built largely around NHL regulars.
Those are more meaningful conclusions than assigning importance to preseason win-loss records.
The compressed four-game preseason has given players fewer opportunities to change a coach’s mind. It has also made individual performances more valuable. One excellent night can influence a roster battle because there may be no fifth or sixth exhibition game available to correct the impression.
What Happens Next Before the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season?
The league moves into its final exhibition day on September 26 before the regular season begins September 29.
- Washington Capitals: finish the preseason at Philadelphia on September 26. Ovechkin is not expected to play.
- Colorado Avalanche: close their preseason at Utah on September 26.
- New York Rangers: preseason complete; open the regular season at Boston on September 29.
- Boston Bruins: preseason complete; host the Rangers on September 29.
- Dallas Stars: preseason complete at 4-0; open against St. Louis on October 2.
- Winnipeg Jets: preseason complete after the loss in Denver.
The full framework for the new season, including the expanded 84-game schedule and championship picture, is available in TSE’s complete NHL 2026-27 curtain-raiser.
The official NHL preseason schedule confirms the remaining exhibition calendar, while the league’s September 25 status report provides the latest injury and lineup information. The NHL also confirmed that Ovechkin is expected to be ready for Washington’s regular-season opener barring a setback.
For continuing coverage of roster decisions, injuries, performances and the regular season, follow The Sports Encounter’s broader hockey coverage.
NHL Preseason September 25, 2026 FAQs
What Were the NHL Preseason Results on September 25, 2026?
Washington beat Boston 3-2 in overtime, the Rangers beat the Islanders 6-1, Dallas defeated Minnesota 2-1 and Colorado beat Winnipeg 5-2.
Who Scored a Hat Trick in Friday’s NHL Preseason Games?
T.J. Hughes scored three goals and added an assist for the Colorado Avalanche in their 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
Did Tyler Seguin Play for the Dallas Stars?
Yes. Seguin returned to game action against Minnesota after being sidelined since December with a torn ACL in his right knee.
Did Alex Ovechkin Play Against the Boston Bruins?
No. Washington kept Ovechkin out as a precaution while he recovered from a lower-body issue. The Capitals also planned to hold him out of their preseason finale.
Who Led the Rangers Against the Islanders?
The Rangers received goals from six different players, while defenseman Adam Fox recorded three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 15 of 16 shots.
When Does the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season Begin?
The NHL regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, 2026.