Capitals down Penguins 5–3 as Islanders absorb major blow — Metropolitan Division roundup

The first head-to-head clash between Washington and Pittsburgh this season went the Capitals’ way. A 5–3 victory over the Penguins lifted Washington into third place in the Metropolitan Division with 4 points in 3 games (2-1-0), nudging Pittsburgh down to fourth with 4 points through four outings (2-2-0).

Capitals take key divisional win, Penguins tweak blue line

In a division where early separation is already showing, Washington banked a classic four-point swing by beating a direct rival 5–3. The Penguins miss an opportunity to build momentum and instead slide back to .500. Away from the ice, Pittsburgh kept working on its defence: the Penguins acquired left-shot defenceman Spencer Stastney from the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, sending forward Filip Hallander the other way in an early-season trade.

Islanders rocked by Romanov injury, Dravecky signs ELC

The most significant long-term development in the Metropolitan comes on Long Island. New York Islanders defenceman Alexander Romanov will miss an estimated 6–8 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee during Tuesday’s loss to the New York Rangers. It’s a major setback for an Islanders team that has taken just 2 points from its first three games (1-2-0) and was counting on Romanov on the back end.

The Islanders did lock in a blueline prospect, however. The club signed Czech defenceman Vladimir Dravecky, their 2026 fifth-round pick, to a three-year entry-level contract as he continues his development with the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

Hurricanes steady, Knies ignites Columbus, Rangers on top

The Carolina Hurricanes look every bit like a contender in the early going. On Tuesday, Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall powered Carolina to a 6–4 road win over the Montreal Canadiens, finishing off a perfect two-game trip. With 5 points in 4 games (2-1-1), the Hurricanes sit second in the Metropolitan behind the New York Rangers, who lead the pack with 8 points in 5 games (4-1-0). A Daily Faceoff analysis underlined the value both clubs get from their stars, highlighting Aho and Jake Guentzel among the NHL’s most fairly paid contracts.

In Columbus, early returns are promising. Through two games, Matthew Knies has jumped to the top of the Blue Jackets’ scoring while Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk carry an outsized defensive load for a 1-1-0 start. Further down the table, the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers are stuck on 2 points each, with the Flyers still chasing their first regulation win (0-2-2) in a division already being paced by the two New York clubs.