5 things learned from Sept. 29 preseason games

With the start of the NHL regular season Wednesday, NHL.com is taking a closer look at the players, teams and stories that are making headlines in the preseason.
Here are five things we learned from the preseason games Saturday:

Flyers getting healthy

Forwards Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier returned for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4-1 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
Simmonds had two points (one goal, one assist) in his first game since having surgery May 1 to repair a pelvis tear on his right side and a torn abdominal muscle on his left side.
"A little bit of rust, obviously," Simmonds told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I think it's natural. A couple giveaways I would've liked to have back, but I felt like I was skating good, so it was nice."
Couturier skated in his usual spot centering Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny after missing the preseason with a knee injury sustained in a charity game Aug. 10. He had four shots on goal and won four of five face-offs in 15:08 of ice time.
"I'm feeling good," Couturier said. "If I hadn't been feeling good, I probably wouldn't have played. But I'm feeling good and we kind of want to get back into game shape and get the bad habits out of you from the summer and it's just good to get back out there and get a feel for where you need to be out there and get a feel for the game."
Goalie Brian Elliott, who had core-muscle surgery in February, made 26 saves, including 14 in the second period, and is on target for the Flyers' regular-season opener at the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 4 (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN; SN360, TVAS, NBCSP).
"He looked comfortable," coach Dave Hakstol said. "He was patient in the net in letting plays come to him and was solid all the way through."

Panthers lose Yandle

Keith Yandle, who has appeared in 715 consecutive regular-season games, sustained an upper-body injury in the Florida Panthers' 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at BB&T Center.

"He's day to day," Boughner said. "I expect him back practicing this week."
Yandle hasn't missed a game since March 22, 2009. Florida opens at the Lightning on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-F, NHL.TV).

Bjork returns for Bruins

Forward Anders Bjork played his first game for the Bruins since Jan. 30.
Bjork, 22, had been recovering from shoulder surgery. He skated 16:17 as the right wing on the third line.
"Felt all right, a little rusty," Bjork told the Bruins website. "It's hard to prepare for, even with our practices. I think I was lucky enough that our camp is really high-paced and pretty physical. I think I was as ready as I could be … but when you don't play a game in seven or eight months you're going to be a little rusty. Definitely felt it a little bit."

Kings not panicking

The Los Angeles Kings lost forward Dustin Brown to an upper-body injury and ended the preseason 1-6-1 -- their worst record since 1974-75 (0-5-1) -- after a 3-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center.
Captain Anze Kopitar is looking ahead to the regular-season opener against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-W, NBCSCA, NHL.TV).
"I don't think we need to panic by any means," Kopitar told LAKings Insider, "but we've got to know that puck management in that regard has to be a lot better. We have to sharpen up our game, for sure. Everybody in here knows that, and we're going to work on it. It's a big week ahead of us, and we'll be ready for Friday."

Talbot, Yamamoto send Oilers to Europe on winning note

Cam Talbot made 39 saves and forward Kailer Yamamoto scored twice to help the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place.
The Oilers landed in Cologne, Germany, on Sunday riding momentum of a 6-1-0 preseason. They play Kolner Haie in an exhibition at Lanxess Arena on Wednesday (10 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN) as part of the 2018 NHL Global Series Challenge.
"Cam looks tremendous," coach Todd McLellan told the Oilers website. "He looks very sharp and calm, yet aggressive. The guys appreciated that in the first period when they weren't ready to go, so he's been outstanding for us."

Yamamoto has nine points (six goals, three assists) in three preseason games.
"He's been good all camp," Oilers center Connor McDavid said. "He's found ways to score, goes to the net and battles hard even though he's a smaller guy, so credit to him for his intensity and grit. He's been good for us."
Defenseman Adam Larsson left the game in the first period and did not return but is expected to be available when the Oilers begin their regular season against the New Jersey Devils at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG+).
"His back tightened up in the first period and we shut him down," McLellan said. "No need with a long flight to Europe, and he should be good to go opening day."

Here's the full schedule for Sunday (all times ET):

Predators at Hurricanes, 1:30 p.m.
Blues at Capitals, 3 p.m. (NHLN, NBCSWA)
Avalanche at Stars, 6 p.m.
Sharks at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. (NHLN, ATTSN-RM)