Avalanche roll in Calgary, Predators rally late: Central Division roundup

It was a busy night for the Central Division, highlighted by a statement win from the Colorado Avalanche, another shutout by the Dallas Stars, and a late surge from the Nashville Predators in Montreal. Elsewhere, Utah and St. Louis took tough losses, while Chicago and Minnesota also came up short.

Avalanche roll in Calgary, O’Connor steps away

Sitting second in the Central with 6 points through 4 games (3-1-0), the Colorado Avalanche flexed their offensive muscle in Calgary with a 7-3 victory. According to Sportsnet, Cale Makar scored twice and added an assist in a game that kept the Flames winless on the season. Sportsnet also notes that Calgary forward Jonathan Castagna picked up his first NHL point against Colorado. Away from the ice, Daily Faceoff reports that Logan O’Connor will be taking time away from the team following the passing of his father.

Predators’ comeback win comes with injury concerns

The Nashville Predators left Montreal with two more points and a few new questions. Fifth in the Central with 5 points in 4 games (2-1-1), they erased a two-goal deficit to beat the Canadiens 5-2. Sportsnet reports that Adam Edstrom scored twice, while Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi and Alex Kerfoot each recorded two points in the comeback win. However, Daily Faceoff adds that Mavrik Bourque and William Trudeau both left the game with upper-body injuries and were unable to return.

Stars stay stingy, rough night for Mammoth and Blues

The Dallas Stars sit sixth in the Central with 4 points (2-2-0), but Jake Oettinger is already in mid-season form. As noted by Sportsnet, he made 26 saves for his second straight shutout in a 4-0 win over the Sabres, with Mikko Rantanen contributing a goal and three assists.

Higher up the standings, the Utah Mammoth remain third with 6 points in 5 games (3-2-0) despite an ugly 6-1 loss in Boston. La Presse points out that newly named Bruins captain David Pastrnak put up four points, while The Hockey Writers framed it as the kind of really bad game every team tends to have at least once a season.

In St. Louis, the Blues (seventh with 3 points, 1-2-1) let an extra point slip away in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks. According to Sportsnet, Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for San Jose, Collin Graf scored the late third-period equalizer, and Darnell Nurse netted the overtime winner for his first goal with the Sharks.

Quick hits: Blackhawks, Wild and Jets

The Chicago Blackhawks remain last in the Central with 2 points in 5 games (1-4-0) after a 4-1 loss to the Islanders. Sportsnet highlights Bo Horvat’s two-goal performance, a two-assist and 10-penalty-minute night for Logan Stanley, and Ilya Sorokin stopping 22 of 23 shots. In a separate report, Sportsnet notes that Frank Nazar received a match penalty for a hit that injured Horvat.

The Minnesota Wild (fourth with 5 points, 2-1-1) were edged 3-2 by the Lightning. Per Sportsnet, John Carlson scored twice, Nikita Kucherov added two assists and Dennis Hildeby made 34 saves for Tampa Bay.

The Winnipeg Jets were idle but still lead the Central with 7 points in 4 games (3-0-1). Sportsnet reports that their top line is driving the hot start, even as the club continues to look for more depth scoring.