Ice hockey: the main stories of 22.09.2026

Omsk are staring at a run they cannot stop. Torpedo beat Avangard 5-1 in Nizhny Novgorod, a third straight defeat for Guy Boucher's side and a first win for the hosts after seven losses in a row. Boucher said afterwards that half his squad is injured and called the situation hellish. Torpedo coach Alexei Isakov said his players were told not to read anything into the absentees, and separately welcomed Alexei Yakovlev, signed from Sibir on Monday, as a man who will help the side. Avangard forward Yegor Afanasyev, speaking earlier in the day, praised the club's NHL-level conditions; the results have not followed.

Shanghai Dragons took a 3-2 home win on a brace from Murray, a fifth defeat in six for Avtomobilist, who sit 7th in the East. Alexei Kudashov was blunt about the goals his side conceded, calling them kindergarten stuff, though that is carried by one outlet only. In Moscow, Barys beat Dynamo 4-1 and blocked 41 shots, matching the KHL regular-season record; Mikhail Kravets' team have five wins from seven and are 3rd in the East. Dynamo coach Leonid Tambiev said his forward line needs reinforcement and that no signings have come.

• Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer spoke about Brady Tkachuk's summer trade to Florida, saying blood is thicker than water and that the captain's father and brother swayed him — one outlet.
• One outlet reports Anaheim have named Mikael Granlund captain, the tenth in club history, after Radko Gudas held the role from 2024.
• Bowen Byram scored a hat-trick on his Chicago debut, the winner in overtime, as the Blackhawks beat Minnesota 4-3 in preseason; Roman Kantserov had an assist in 14:42 on the same night.
• By one report, Lokomotiv signed Daniil Romantsev to a one-year deal worth 18m roubles after a trial contract on 11 September.
• Dallas extended Sam Steel for four years at a cap hit of $3.7m from 2027-28.
• The Tula governor ordered regional help for AKM, who were reported last week as at risk of not finishing the VHL season.
• Rod Brind'Amour called for preseason games to be scrapped, preferring 86 regular-season fixtures and none in September.
• Valery Kamensky said Alexander Ovechkin should play a farewell match in the KHL; Ovechkin signed a one-year deal with Washington on 2 July.
• Jean-Luc Foudy left the Colorado system for Eisbären Berlin.
• Omskie Krylya offered supporters courgettes in exchange for tickets to the Yugra fixture.