Preseason Wrap: Split-Squad Wins, Injuries, and Goalie Notes
Saturday's preseason slate included split-squad victories for Montreal and Ottawa, with Chris Kreider scoring his first Canadiens goal and Jake Sanderson leaving for precautionary reasons. Carolina shut out Nashville 6-0, Los Angeles beat Anaheim 6-2, Vancouver edged Seattle 4-3, New Jersey topped the Islanders 4-1, Edmonton downed Calgary 4-1, and Pittsburgh defeated Buffalo 3-1. Ottawa also acquired goalie Jonas Johansson from Tampa Bay for future considerations, while Seattle's Mackie Samoskevich was day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Montreal and Ottawa each won one game in split-squad play. Chris Kreider recorded his first preseason goal for Montreal, while Ottawa's Jake Sanderson left midway through the second period with an undisclosed issue and was pulled for caution. Ottawa also added goalie Jonas Johansson from Tampa Bay for future considerations.
Seattle's Mackie Samoskevich sat out with an upper-body injury and was listed day-to-day. Buffalo lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the third period to an undisclosed injury, and Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust exited midway through the second with an undisclosed injury, then remained under evaluation.
The injury notes may matter most to players, teams, and fans awaiting roster decisions. If Sanderson, Samoskevich, Luukkonen, or Rust miss time, their clubs could adjust preseason plans, giving others chances to audition. Fans may see altered lineups or delayed clarity, though day-to-day or precautionary labels suggest limited disruption. The Johansson trade may also affect Ottawa's goalie depth and Tampa's organizational options.