5 things learned from Sept. 19 preseason games

Now that the 19-day, 110-game NHL preseason schedule has begun, it's time to take a closer look at the players, teams and stories that are making headlines in the weeks leading up to the start of the regular season Oct. 3.
Here are five things we learned from the preseason games Wednesday:

Necas shines for Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are counting on an infusion of youth to change their fortunes, and forward Martin Necas scored during a solid performance in a
6-1 victory
against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena.
It came one night after 18 year-old forward Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had a goal and an assist against the Lightning.
Necas, 19, was selected No. 12 in the 2017 NHL Draft and played one game with the Hurricanes last season before being returned to the Czech Republic.
He is expected to make the team this season and could be a top-two center. He made several high-skill plays and scored by deflecting a Justin Faulk shot.
"He looked like a young kid, but really talented," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour told the Raleigh News & Observer. "If you give him time and space, he can make plays."

Youth movement starts right in Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings are rebuilding, and that centers around 22-year-old forward Dylan Larkin.
Two recent Red Wings draft picks teamed up with Larkin for the winning goal in
a 3-2 overtime victory
against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit's preseason opener.
Forward Michael Rasmussen, a 19-year-old who was selected No. 9 in the 2017 draft, scored the winning goal, converting a pass from Larkin after a shot from Dennis Cholowski hit the post. The 20-year-old defenseman was the No. 20 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
"I thought [Rasmussen] got much better as the game went along," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told the Detroit Free Press. "He was doing the things he needs to do -- he was engaged, laid a big hit in the second period, he was strong on the puck. He was great around the net. He's got real good hands in that area."

Blues ruin Wild night in Iowa

It was a perfect night for the home team in Des Moines, Iowa, for 55 minutes between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues.
The Wild, whose American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Wild, play in Des Moines, were winning in front of a record crowd of 14,828 at Wells Fargo Arena for the state's first NHL game.
But Blues forward Tyler Bozak scored two goals 27 seconds apart in the final five minutes to give the Blues
a 3-2 victory
.
It was a small blemish on an otherwise unforgettable night in the city.
"I don't know if we ever put 14,000 in the building when I was here," said former Iowa Wild goalie Alex Stalock, who plays for Minnesota.

Ennis making most of opportunity with Maple Leafs

Tyler Ennis was given an opportunity. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward didn't let it go to waste.
Ennis, on a one-year contract and with his third team in as many seasons, scored twice playing right wing on the top line with center Auston Matthews in
a 4-1 victory
against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.
Ennis was occupying the spot held by William Nylander, a restricted free agent who has not agreed to a contract with the Maple Leafs.
"The big thing for Ennis, you get a break, you get some points, you feel good," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "You get a great opportunity, obviously, playing with [Matthews], so I'm just looking for speed, tenacity and work ethic. The rest will happen for him."

Rittich fares better in second game with Flames

David Rittich stopped all 26 shots he faced in two periods of work for the Calgary Flames in
a 4-1 victory
against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
Rittich's bid to hold on to the backup goaltender job behind Mike Smith did not get off to a good start Monday when he allowed six goals on 27 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Rittich, the backup last season, went 8-6-3 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.
He will be pushed by Jon Gillies and Tyler Parsons for the backup job. Parsons played the third period and gave up one goal on 13 shots.
"It's reps," Cail MacLean, coach of Calgary's American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, told the Calgary Sun. He ran the Flames split squad while coach Bill Peters was at the 2018 O.R.G. NHL China Games. "It's such valuable time to have live bullets, when you talk about playing these exhibition games … we want to make sure we do what's right for the particular goaltenders to get them ready."

Here is the full schedule for Thursday (all times ET):
Capitals at Canadiens, 7 p.m. (RDS, TSN2, NBCSWA)
Devils at Islanders, 7 p.m. (MSG+, MSG)
Blackhawks at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NHLN, FS-D, WGN)
Stars at Wild, 8 p.m. (FS-N, FS-WI)
Jets at Oilers, 9 p.m. (TSN3)
Sharks at Ducks, 10 p.m. (NHLN, PRIME)
Kings at Canucks, 10 p.m. (SN1)
Golden Knights at Kings, 10:30 p.m.