Aleski Saarela notched a natural hat trick in SCL Tigers 5-2 victory over EHC Biel-Bienne in an exhibition game from Switzerland’s National League. After scoring at even-strength late in the second period to put Langnau ahead 2-1, Saarela bagged a pair of power-play goals 69 seconds apart early in the third to help the Tigers pull away. Aleksi Heponiemi saw duty on Biel’s second line and did not figure in the scoring.
Prospect Jakub Kos played on the fourth line in Ilves 4-0 shutout win over HIFK in preseason action from Finland’s top-level Liiga.
Kirill Gerasimyuk served as the backup goaltender is SKA Neva St. Petersburg’s 7-2 win over HK Norilsk in an exhibition match from the VHL.
NHL News
The Anaheim Ducks sent a fourth-round pick in 2025 to the Buffalo Sabres to acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin. Lyubushkin is a five-year NHL veteran who began his North American career with the Arizona Coyotes in 2018. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2022, and he signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with Buffalo in July 2022. The 29-year-old had 14 points in 68 games with the Sabres last season. He led Buffalo’s defensemen in hits and blocked shots per 60 minutes of play, and played extensively as a penalty-killer.
The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Matthew Steinburg to a two-year entry-level contract. After wrapping up his final season with Cornell, where he finished with two goals and seven points in 18 games, the 22-year-old Steinburg joined the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. He had one assist in four regular season games and one assist in four postseason games.