Flyers set franchise-worst skid to start season, Metropolitan Division roundup

It’s a stark split in the Metropolitan this morning: the Hurricanes and Rangers keep stacking wins, while the Flyers slide into a franchise-worst opening streak and the Capitals watch an early lead disappear.

Flyers sink deeper as Hurricanes tighten their grip

In Philadelphia, a 4–1 loss to Carolina dropped the Flyers to 0-5-2 and just 2 points, last in the division. Sportsnet reports the defeat marks a franchise-record seventh straight loss to start a season. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, climb to 11 points in 7 games (5-1-1), solidly on top of the Metropolitan.

Carolina pulled this one out without captain Jordan Staal, who missed the game against the Flyers with a lower-body injury, according to Sportsnet. For Philadelphia, the problems are piling up: Daily Faceoff reports Travis Konecny has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 8, with Oliver Bonk called up in his place. The Hockey Writers notes that the Flyers’ upcoming week is framed by goaltending woes and power-play mechanics after a gruelling early road stretch.

Rangers roll Canucks but lose Shesterkin for the season

At Madison Square Garden, the Rangers handled Vancouver 6–2, scoring three times in the third period to sink the Canucks, per Sportsnet. That pushes New York to 10 points in 7 games (5-2-0), good for second in the division. Elias Pettersson briefly gave Vancouver life with a shorthanded equalizer late in the second period, set up by Brendan Gallagher as highlighted by Sportsnet, but the Rangers pulled away in the final frame.

The bigger story on Broadway is in goal. The Hockey Writers reports Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, leaving the Rangers facing major questions and even floating a potential opening around Tristan Jarry in light of their goalie injuries. A separate “week ahead” look from The Hockey Writers adds that New York will also be tinkering with its blue-line rotations.

Capitals let one slip, Devils, Blue Jackets and Penguins tweak

In Washington, the Capitals fell 5–3 to the Kraken. La Presse notes it was a third win in four games for Seattle, with Frédérick Gaudreau scoring again to help power the effort. Sportsnet shows Alex Ovechkin finally getting on the board with his first goal of the season, giving Washington a 2–1 first-period lead off a feed from Ilya Protas, but the Kraken came back to take it. The loss leaves the Capitals fourth in the Metro at 3-2-0 (6 points in 5 games).

The Devils, sitting fifth with 4 points in 4 games (2-2-0), are already dealing with familiar issues like surrendering the first goal, injuries that force lineup shuffles, and 5-on-5 struggles, according to The Hockey Writers. Daily Faceoff adds that Evan Rodrigues has been fined for high-sticking Marco Rossi of the Canucks before a faceoff on Saturday. In Columbus, The Hockey Writers describes a "full spectrum" start for the Blue Jackets (also at 4 points in 4 games), underscored by a 5–3 loss to the Blues in which St. Louis stormed back from an early two-goal deficit.

The Hockey Writers frames the Penguins’ week—Pittsburgh is third with 7 points in 6 outings (3-2-1)—around core continuity, defensive questions, special-teams execution and physical durability. The Islanders stay out of the headlines for now but sit seventh at 2-3-0 (4 points in 5 games).