5 things learned from Sept. 28 preseason games

With the start of the NHL regular season Oct. 3, 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 Friday:

Fleury perfect in preseason debut with Golden Knights

Marc-Andre Fleury was flawless in his preseason debut with the Vegas Golden Knights, making 26 saves in a 2-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.
Fleury was at his best when the Kings pressed late in the second period, including a poke-check on Austin Wagner after the Kings forward got behind the defense and was trying to cross in front of the net.

"I'm a little tired, but it feels good to start with a win," he said. "That first game, you never know how it's going to turn out, so I was happy it wasn't too bad."
It was also the preseason debut for defenseman Shea Theodore, who agreed to a seven-year, $36.4 million contract on Monday.
"I felt good," he said. "As the game went on, you try to get up to speed and get your legs a little bit more. It was a good first game for me, I felt better in the third [period], which is what I've got to roll off of."

Tavares-Matthews combination fuels Maple Leafs power play

The respect opposing goaltenders have to show to Auston Matthews when the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the power play is making life easier for John Tavares.
Tavares turned a pass from Matthews into one of Toronto's three second-period power-play goals during a 6-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena on Friday. With the Maple Leafs on a 5-on-3 advantage, Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard had to respect Matthews' shot; instead, the third-year center fed Tavares on the right side for a one-timer.

"I know I would be, the way he can shoot the puck," said Tavares, who has five goals in four preseason games, two on the power play. "Any time [Matthews] gets that kind of time and space you know he's going to make the right play and find the open man.
"It's not just finding the guy, it's the ability to get the goalie and get the opponent to be drawn into what he's doing. Then he puts it on a tee for me in the right spot. That's when you know a guy is a special player. It's not just finding the open man, it's how he delivers it."
Toronto is 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) on the power play entering the rematch tonight in Detroit.

Hurricanes building identity during perfect preseason

Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour knows that his team's perfect preseason won't count for anything when the puck drops for real against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-CR). But the way the Hurricanes have played while going 5-0-0 has impressed him.
"It means a little bit for us. We're trying to establish something," the first-year coach said after the Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4 in overtime at Capital One Arena. "We've been somewhat irrelevant for too long here. Yes, the preseason doesn't mean anything as far as the wins and losses, but for us, how we're doing it does matter."
Sebastian Aho's second goal of the game 19 seconds into overtime kept the Hurricanes perfect. Carolina has scored at least four goals in each of its five wins.

Aho appears to be settling in as a center after spending his first two seasons on left wing. He also said the Hurricanes are trying to establish a winning attitude after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for nine consecutive seasons.
"We are building our identity. This is how we want to start," Aho said. "This is who we are. We've got to get it going early. Work hard. No off days or off nights. Every night you have to be ready and play for the team. It's all about hard work."

Werenski shows no rust in debut with Blue Jackets

Third-year defenseman Zach Werenski, coming off shoulder surgery, looked like he was in midseason form in his preseason debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets, assisting on four goals in a 7-6 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena.
"It's no surprise to me," forward Cam Atkinson said of Werenski's showing. "I knew he was hurt all of last year, so you could tell from his rookie year how good he was going to eventually be, as soon as he got a little stronger, more mature and played some games. He's a guy that can control the play. He's very quiet. He always makes the right play, is always in good position and when he's up the ice like that, it's a deadly threat."
Werenski, a Calder Trophy finalist in 2016-17, played most of last season with a harness on his left shoulder and had surgery on May 3 to repair a torn labrum.
His return couldn't have come at a better time for the Blue Jackets, who saw defenseman Scott Harrington leave in the first period with an upper-body injury. Coach John Tortorella said Harrington will be re-evaluated Saturday. Columbus is already without defensemen Seth Jones (sprained knee) and Ryan Murray (groin).
"I just feel terrible for the kid," Tortorella said. "He knows with [Jones] and [Murray] out, he's fighting for a spot to play and I feel bad for him."

#

Housley impressed with Dahlin in Sabres win

Rasmus Dahlin looked right at home playing right defense, his off side, in the Buffalo Sabres' 5-4 win against the New York Islanders at Oshawa, Ontario.
The No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft scored his first preseason goal and looked at comfortable playing on the right side with Jake McCabe. Dahlin played the right side in the Swedish Hockey League.
"It worked out. It was fun, real good," Dahlin said of returning to his natural side. "I can't say it was a big difference. Same kind of style."
Coach Phil Housley, a Hall of Fame defenseman, was impressed.
"It's tough in this league to play on your off side and I think he's handled it quite well," Housley said. "He's pivoting and turning to his right, he does a very good job of that. But I thought his reads were very good tonight."
Dahlin said he's more concerned about his defensive play than about scoring.
"You have to play great in the [defensive] zone," he said. "When that is good, then I can play offense."
Here's the full schedule for Saturday (all times ET)
Flames at Oilers, 3 p.m.
Flyers at Bruins, 5 p.m. (NHLN, NESN)
Maple Leafs at Red Wings, 7 p.m. (FS-D, SN)
Lightning at Panthers, 7 p.m.
Canadiens at Senators, 7 p.m. (RDS, TSN5)
Blue Jackets at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (NHLN, WGN)
Coyotes vs. Canucks, at Prosper Place (Kelowna, British Columbia), 10 p.m. (SN)
Ducks at Kings, 10:30 p.m. (NHLN, PRIME)