Red Wings stumble again, Eklund sidelined: Atlantic Division roundup

The only Atlantic team in action last night, the Red Wings took another step back, while in Ottawa an injury to William Eklund cast a shadow over a strong early record. Elsewhere, the focus is on lineup tweaks and consistency in Montreal, Toronto and Boston.

Red Wings: loss to Kraken, Wallinder’s first NHL goal

Detroit fell 6–3 to the Seattle Kraken, a loss that keeps the Red Wings eighth in the Atlantic with just 2 points from 4 games (1-3-0). According to Sportsnet, Frederick Gaudreau scored twice in a four-goal second period for Seattle and Ben Meyers added a goal and two assists. On the Detroit side, defenceman William Wallinder provided a bright spot by wiring home a point shot for his first career NHL goal, as highlighted by Sportsnet.

Senators: strong record, tough blow with Eklund injury

The Senators sit atop the Atlantic with 6 points in 4 games (3-1-0), but the news isn’t all positive. Sportsnet reports that head coach Travis Green confirmed William Eklund suffered an ankle injury and will miss extended time, though he is expected to return later this season. The Hockey Writers also points out that Ridly Greig needs to take on a bigger role if Ottawa’s forward group is going to come together the way the team needs this year.

Canadiens: uneven start and special-teams questions

At 1-2-1 and 3 points through 4 games, the Canadiens sit seventh in the division and their start is already under the microscope. La Presse’s "Sortie de zone" podcast is asking whether this qualifies as a bad start for a club coming off 106 points and a conference final. La Presse also notes that Mike Matheson has had a hard time digesting a costly mistake in a recent loss, and that Montreal’s special teams have been consistently problematic early on. Eyes on the Prize highlights Josh Anderson’s efforts to make the most of his reduced minutes. The Jayden Struble trade to Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick has already been covered on our site; in related news, Daily Faceoff reports the Predators placed William Trudeau on injured reserve after a game against Montreal.

Bruins, Panthers, Lightning, Maple Leafs: early moves at the top

In Boston, Daily Faceoff says the Bruins "continue to exceed expectations" after a night in which David Pastrnak put up four points and Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves in a win over Utah. The Hockey Writers notes that the Florida Panthers have provided a clearer timeline for Brad Marchand’s return, without specifying the details in its summary.

Toronto sits fifth with 5 points in 5 games (2-2-1). Sportsnet reports that John Tavares will miss the game against Colorado following the birth of his child. Jim Hiller points to the Maple Leafs’ centre depth as a source of lineup flexibility, with Nick Paul stepping into the second line against the Avalanche. On Sportsnet’s panels, there’s talk that rookie Gavin McKenna should be part of the 3-on-3 overtime mix, while another piece notes how newcomer Kirill Marchenko has already made his presence felt through his first five games.