Rangers stay perfect at home, Penguins slide deepens — Metropolitan Division roundup

It was a busy night in the Metropolitan Division: the Rangers extended their perfect home record, the Penguins dropped another tight one and lost Bryan Rust in the process, and the Flyers put together a second straight win against a Western Conference contender. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes absorbed another key injury as their early-season depth is tested yet again.

Rangers flawless at MSG and pushing the Hurricanes

The New York Rangers rolled past the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 and remain perfect on home ice. According to La Presse and Sportsnet, Sean Durzi opened the scoring just 78 seconds in and Dylan Garand turned aside 29 shots. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice, while Gabe Perreault and J.T. Miller also found the net in what Sportsnet notes is New York’s sixth straight home win, pushing their Madison Square Garden record to 6-0-0. In the standings, the Rangers sit at 7-3-1 with 15 points, one back of the first-place Carolina Hurricanes.

Penguins lose again and see Bryan Rust go down

In Utah, the Pittsburgh Penguins fell 5-4 to the Mammoth. Sportsnet reports that Clayton Keller, Kevin Stenlund, Nate Schmidt, Nick Schmaltz and Kailer Yamamoto scored for Utah, which held off a late Penguins push. Daily Faceoff notes that Bryan Rust left the game with a lower-body injury suffered during the loss. Sportsnet also pointed out before puck drop that Pittsburgh came in looking to end a three-game slide, underscoring how costly another defeat is for a team now sitting at 3-6-1 with 7 points in 10 games, sixth in the division. The Hockey News suggests this slow start could push management toward a trade that might not be aimed at immediate help.

Flyers string wins together amid injury shuffles

The Philadelphia Flyers earned a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, their second straight win, as Sportsnet highlights. Matvei Michkov scored twice and Noel Acciari added the other goal in the tight decision. Even with back-to-back wins, the Flyers remain seventh in the Metropolitan at 2-6-3, with 7 points in 11 games.

Off the ice, Daily Faceoff reports that Owen Tippett has been placed on injured reserve, opening the door for a call-up of Jacob Gaucher from AHL Lehigh Valley. Sportsnet also notes that Cole Knuble made his NHL debut on Monday night for the team he grew up cheering for, with his parents in attendance.

Hurricanes lean on depth again, Islanders lose key bodies

The Carolina Hurricanes, leading the division at 7-2-1 with 15 points, are once again being forced to rely on their depth. The Hockey Writers points out that an injury bug has lingered around the club for a second straight season. Daily Faceoff adds that Taylor Hall, who has five points in eight games, has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and is considered week-to-week.

For the New York Islanders, who sit fourth with 9 points in 8 games, Daily Faceoff reports that Maccelli and Ritchie will miss time with lower-body injuries suffered during Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs. It’s an early test of their lineup flexibility as they try to stay in the top half of the division.

Devils get Evangelista back, Blue Jackets wait on Provorov

In New Jersey, Daily Faceoff reports that Luke Evangelista returned to the lineup against Colorado after missing three games. The forward, acquired in a major trade with Nashville before the season, has three points through his first five games as a Devil. New Jersey currently sits fifth in the Metropolitan at 4-4-0, with 8 points in 8 games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets remain at the bottom of the division with 6 points in 7 games (3-4-0), in what The Hockey Writers describes as an inconsistent start. The same outlet underlines that the team is difficult to fully evaluate until Ivan Provorov returns, while also pointing to Kent Johnson’s rise and some key storylines heading into their upcoming schedule, including a recent 1-0 overtime win over the Rangers.