National Hockey

Players aren't the only ones feeling pressure as the NHL season gets underway. The men behind the bench know their jobs depend on their team's performance, too.

The coaching carousel spun a little faster than usual across the NHL, meaning nearly a third of the league will have someone new behind the bench this season. And not just bottom-feeders making changes.

MONTREAL — The Ottawa Senators set the tone early for the first of three consecutive games against the Montreal Canadiens.

Andrei Vasilevskiy doesn't pay attention to off-season NHL news. The signings, the trades, the big moves just aren't on the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender's radar.

Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning are accustomed to short offseasons. This one, the Lightning captain said, “wasn’t as fun as the previous two.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks assigned forward prospect Lukas Reichel to the minors on Tuesday. The 20-year-old was selected by Chicago with the No. 17 pick in the 2020 draft.

Mathew Barzal has agreed to terms with the New York Islanders on an eight-year extension, a move that keeps the franchise's top forward under contract for the balance of his prime. The deal is worth $73.2 million with an annual salary cap hit of $9.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Owen Beck to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced on Tuesday. The deal will see Beck earn (US)$775,000 at the NHL level in 2022-23, $835,000 in 2023-24 and $855,000 in 2024-25.

EDMONTON — It would appear you can add Dylan Holloway’s name to the Edmonton Oilers season-starting roster in indelible ink.

CALGARY — When Chris Tanev last played in an NHL game in the spring, he was playing through a dislocated shoulder. He's healthy again and it showed on Monday night.