Top 4: Mike Babcock (Already) Lashes Out at His Players After an Embarrassing Loss

The 2026–2027 National League season officially kicked off yesterday.

The Canadiens won their game against the Leafs, but there were also four other games played last night. Let's see what happened:

Five down, 1,339 more to go!

Opening night has come to an end with the @FlaPanthers, @CanadiensMTL, @NHLBruins, @Canucks, and @GoldenKnights picking up wins to kick off the 2026-27 season. #NHLFaceOff #NHLStats: https://t.co/CncRj3Zmk8

I almost shed a tear last night while watching the start of the Oilers–Canucks game.

And you'll understand why when you see the photo below…

New colors for Brendan Gallagher

Okay. Let's focus on the hockey…

Last night, the Oilers looked sharp. In fact, Evan Bouchard looked sharp: the defenseman racked up five points, including three goals, in a game that turned out to be a real offensive feast.

Bouchard was involved in ALL of his team's goals… but the Oilers still managed to find a way to lose in overtime.

The team came back from behind in the third period to score three straight goals, but still: the loss stings. Canucks win 6–5…

From the source PAUL COTTER SCORES THE OT WINNER! WHAT A GAME! #NHLFaceOff

From the source The @Canucks come away with the extra point in @Energizer overtime!

The loss stings, and Mike Babcock summed it up well after the game.

The Oilers' new coach laid into his players, saying the team will never win the Stanley Cup if they keep playing that way. Reminder: this was the season opener in Edmonton…

Mike Babcock didn't hold back when asked about the Oilers' season-opening loss to the Canucks in OT.

Is this what the Oilers' season is going to look like?

Lots of goals scored, lots of goals allowed… and some completely crazy games that are going to drive Mike Babcock crazy too?

The Boston Bruins hosted the New York Rangers at home last night.

And we had to wait until the very end of the game to see a goal scored: Fraser Minten netted his team's first goal of the season with what looked like a perfect shot.

You can't make this stuff up:

FRASER MINTEN BREAKS THE ICE WITH LESS THAN 4 MINUTES TO GO IN THE 3RD

But what really caught everyone's attention in that game was the goal scored by JJ Peterka.

The German, who was acquired by the Bruins this summer, may have already scored one of the goals of the season in the National Hockey League. He sure knows how to make new friends:

From the source JJ Peterka with a DISGUSTING first goal as a Bruin! #NHLFaceOff

The Bruins won 3-0 and are off to a strong start to the season.

For the Rangers, it's their first shutout in 26-27… and we're reminded just how often that happened last season.

It was a great night for Blackhawks fans yesterday.

Fans got to see Patrick Kane make his return to action with the organization that helped him become the player we know today. And…

Fans were treated to a special moment when No. 88 found the back of the net in the third period:

PATRICK KANE WITH THE FILTHY GOAL IN HIS RETURN WITH CHICAGO

That said, Hawks fans didn't have much to cheer about as the team was routed 5-2.

The Golden Knights dominated the game from start to finish… and kudos to Jack Eichel, who finished the game with three points (one goal and two assists).

A strong start for the Knights.

The Panthers and the Hurricanes faced off to kick off the season in a game that started earlier than the others.

And I don't know if the guys were nervous… but things quickly got heated between the two teams. The two Quebecers, Bokondji Imama and Nicolas Deslauriers, put on quite a show to kick off the season:

THE FIRST GLOVES DROPPED OF THE 2026 SEASON

But the Panthers–Hurricanes game was a lot like the Rangers–Bruins matchup.

There were some good scoring chances… but nothing more. Nothing really clear-cut either, so the game went into overtime to determine a winner while the score was still 0-0.

And in overtime, it was Gustav Forsling who played the hero.

GUSTAV FORSLING CALLS GAME

From the source The @FlaPanthers open the season with a win in @Energizer overtime! #NHLFaceOff

– Top scorers from last night:

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

(Credit: Screenshot / Google)

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.