* Nikita Kucherov recorded his first multi-point performance of the season in a Lightning win and moved within 10 points of becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
* Both Canadian teams in action Monday skated to victory as Tim Stützle helped the Senators improve to 2-0-0, while Clay Stevenson backstopped the Jets to a third-period comeback win in his team debut.
* An ESPN and Sportsnet+ doubleheader begins with the first “Battle of New York” ever to feature a teenage defenseman on both sides when the Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer and Rangers’ Alberts Smits face off.
KUCHEROV’S MULTI-POINT NIGHT MOVES HIM CLOSER ATOP LIGHTNING’S POINTS LIST
Nikita Kucherov (0-2—2) assisted on the first and final goals of the game in what was the Lightning’s second straight win and moved within 10 points of surpassing Steven Stamkos (1,137) atop the franchise’s all-time points list.
* Kucherov recorded his 182nd career multi-assist game and passed Henrik Sedin (181) for the third most in NHL history among players born and trained outside North America. Ahead of him are Jaromir Jagr (266) and Peter Stastny (193).
* Kucherov also won his 156th career game in which he had multiple assists. The only active players with more victories in that scenario are Sidney Crosby (221) and Connor McDavid (164).-06032814.png)
SENATORS, JETS MAINTAIN PERFECT STARTS ON THE ROAD
A pair of Canadian clubs improved to 2-0-0 on the road this season as the Senators and Jets triumphed over the Bruins and Penguins, respectively.
* Clay Stevenson’s debut for Winnipeg saw him make 30 saves in a third-period comeback win for his new club. Only four goaltenders who won their Jets franchise debut had as many saves: Laurent Brossoit (42 on Oct. 14, 2018), Daniel Berthiaume (36 on Nov. 4, 1986), Eric Comrie (35 on April 6, 2017) and Doug Soetaert (33 on Oct. 15, 1981).
* Tim Stützle scored twice in a span of 1:43 during the opening frame, marking the fastest pair of goals by a Senators skater since Brady Tkachuk on Feb. 13, 2024 (0:48). With his first tally, Stützle (449 GP) became the fourth German player in NHL history to reach the 150-goal mark, following Leon Draisaitl (437), Marco Sturm (242) and Jochen Hecht (186), with Draisaitl being the only one to reach the milestone in fewer games (396 GP). Coincidentally, Sturm watched the milestone goal from Boston’s bench as the Bruins head coach.
STARS SECURE FIRST WIN IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The Stars skated to their first win of 2026-27 with a 5-0 victory, capped off by a highlight-reel goal from Mikko Rantanen. Dallas earned its sixth straight home win against San Jose – the franchise’s third-longest active run versus an opponent (13 GP vs. DET & 9 GP vs. PHI). Find more notes on Dallas’ win and the rest of Monday’s slate in #NHLStats: Live Updates.
QUICK CLICKS
* Alex Ovechkin announces this is final NHL season
* Social media reacts to Alex Ovechkin’s retirement announcement
* Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin appreciate Alex Ovechkin‘s legacy
* Anders Lee settling in with Mammoth, already making impact on young roster
* Igor Shesterkin, Evan Bouchard, Paul Cotter named “Three Stars of the Week”
YOUNG DEFENSEMEN SIGNAL NEXT GENERATION OF NEW YORK RIVALRY
The intense “Battle of New York” between the Rangers and Islanders dates back to 1972-73 while contesting 340 games (301 in the regular season & 39 in the postseason) with many Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup champions part of the lore. The rivalry continues tonight on ESPN with a new generation of stars on each side, including the two youngest defensemen in the NHL this season: Islanders defenseman and reigning Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer (age 19) and Rangers blueliner and Latvian Olympian Alberts Smits (age 18).
* Schaefer is coming off his first multi-point performance of 2026-27 (0-2—2 Oct. 3 vs. NJD) in a sophomore season in which he looks to follow up a historic rookie campaign where he earned a long list of achievements including becoming the youngest defenseman in NHL history to record a 20-goal season. Schaefer’s only goal against the Rangers last season was a game winner (1-1—2 in 4 GP).
* ICYMI: Schaefer is living with former Islanders forward Matt Martin and his family again this season. The growing relationship between Schaefer and the Martins, including some funny anecdotes, was recently featured as part of NHL.com’s ‘The Long Read’.
* Schaefer (No. 1 in 2025) and Smits (No. 5 in 2026) were top-five picks in back-to-back drafts who are thrown right into the Islanders-Rangers rivalry. Smits became the fifth defenseman in 100 seasons of Rangers hockey – and just the second over the past 80 years – to make his NHL debut at age 18 or younger. The only other blueliners to do so with the Blueshirts: Len Wharton (17 years; March 4, 1945), Red Garrett (18 years; Nov. 29, 1942), Dave Maloney (18 years; Dec. 18, 1974) and Spence Tatchell (18 years; Feb. 20, 1943).
