* Carter Verhaeghe told Panthers’ rink side reporter Katie Engleson “We’re all just trying to be like Brady out there” after tallying three consecutive goals and making Florida the first team in NHL history with a natural hat trick in three straight games. Sam Bennett also buried three markers as the Panthers had two hat tricks in the same contest for the first time in franchise history.
* Connor McDavid became the fastest player in more than 30 years to reach the 20-point mark in a season, while Cole Caufield collected his 14th career overtime goal to match McDavid for the League’s most by a skater age 25 or younger.
* Nikita Kucherov and Alex DeBrincat led the Lightning and Red Wings to come-from-behind wins Saturday, marking the eighth instance in NHL history where there were multiple multi-goal comeback victories in three consecutive days and first since April 27-29, 2022. The League’s longest streak was four straight days from Oct. 26-29, 2005.
* Mark Jankowski helped the Hurricanes extend their winning streak to seven games. Carolina can stretch the run to eight contests against his former team tonight.
PANTHERS BECOME NHL’s FIRST TEAM WITH THREE STRAIGHT NATURAL HAT TRICKS
Carter Verhaeghe tallied three consecutive goals to record the Panthers’ third natural hat trick in as many games (also Brady Tkachuk on Oct. 15 & Oct. 13), while Sam Bennett also buried three markers to help Florida forge a high-scoring victory versus Seattle. The Panthers became the first team in NHL history with three straight natural hat tricks and 10th during the League’s modern era (since 1943-44) with at least one three-goal performance of any kind in three consecutive contests.
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* Florida became the first team in more than 100 years with four hat tricks before their 10th game in a season – the last club to achieve the feat before Saturday was the 1922-23 Toronto St. Patricks (5). The Panthers also became the second team over the past 100 years with four hat tricks in a span of three games or fewer after the Quebec Nordiques had five across two contests from Feb. 20-22, 1981.
* Verhaeghe scored the second natural hat trick of his career (also April 1, 2023) and became the third player in franchise history with more than one after Tkachuk and Pavel Bure (Feb. 14, 2001 & March 3, 1999). Verhaeghe had his fourth career hat trick of any kind with Florida to tie Aleksander Barkov, Olli Jokinen and Matthew Tkachuk for third place on the club’s all-time list behind Bure (10) and Ray Sheppard (5).
* Verhaeghe, a three-time Stanley Cup winner known for his clutch scoring, was signed by the Panthers less than two weeks after capturing a championship with Tampa Bay. He was one of the first acquisitions after Florida handed the general manager reins to Bill Zito, architect of its 2025 and 2024 Cup-winning teams who has a connection to another major North American pro sports club seeking a title.
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McDavid becomes fastest player in more than 30 years to reach 20-point mark
Connor McDavid had 2-3—5 and became the fastest player to reach the 20-point mark in a season since Mario Lemieux (7 GP in 1995-96) while helping the Oilers improve to 6-1-1 (13 points) on the campaign.
* McDavid recorded his 16th career five-point game. He has at least one against 14 different franchises and passed Steve Yzerman (13) for the third-highest total in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky (22) as well asLemieux (21).
CAUFIELD CALLS GAME WITH ANOTHER OVERTIME WINNER
The Sabres rallied late to force extra time at Bell Centre for the second time in five days, but Cole Caufield (2-0—2) helped the Canadiens stave off the visitors and earn two points once again with a pair of goals, including the overtime winner. It marked the 14th overtime tally of Caufield’s career, tied with Kirill Kaprizov and Sebastian Aho for the most since his NHL debut in 2020-21.
* Caufield also notched his 36th career game-winning goal and tied Bernie Geoffrion for the second most by a Canadiens skater at age 25 or younger, trailing only Guy Lafleur (45).
* Caufield, who led the League with 21 tallies in 23 games on a Saturday last season, ranks among the best in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) for goals per game on Saturdays (66 in 106 GP; 0.62). He is tied with Pavel Bure for the sixth-best rate (min. 50 goals) behind Mike Bossy (0.78), Mario Lemieux (0.73), Wayne Gretzky (0.66), Cam Neely (0.65) and Brett Hull (0.64).
OVECHKIN CLOSES IN ON FRANCHISE RECORD AFTER ANOTHER COMEBACK WIN
The Devils opened the scoring but Alex Ovechkin (0-1—1) factored on one of four straight Capitals goals to boost his all-time totals to 930-761—1,691 and earn his 347th career comeback win. The NHL’s all-time goals leader now sits one assist shy of tying Nicklas Backstrom (762) for the most in franchise history.
* Ovechkin is within striking distance of becoming the Capitals’ all-time leader in goals, assists and points. He would become the fourth player born outside North America to lead a franchise in all three categories alongside Aleksander Barkov (FLA), Patrik Elias (NJD) and Daniel Alfredsson (OTT).
Live Updates has Hurricanes’ streaks, Oettinger’s shutout and more
Saturday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 14-game slate. Some highlights include:
* The Hurricanes stretched several streaks in their victory Saturday: they extended their win streak to seven games and tied the Panthers (7 GP in 2024-25) and Golden Knights (7 GP in 2023-24) for the longest run by a reigning Stanley Cup champion since 2020-21, they posted the first season-opening road win streak of at least five games in franchise history and Mark Jankowski (6 GP)matched the third-longest goal streak in franchise history behind Pierre Larouche (9 GP in 1981-82) and Ray Ferraro (7 GP in 1988-89).
* Jake Oettinger earned his League-leading third shutout of the season – no other goaltender has multiple – in just his sixth game of 2026-27. He became the fastest netminder in Stars franchise history to post three shutouts in a campaign and also matched the benchmark among all American goaltenders, previously achieved by Jonathan Quick (2011-12), Tim Thomas (2010-11) and Frank Brimsek (1938-39).
* Macklin Celebrini (1-2—3) collected his 23rd career three-point game before the Red Wings completed their multi-goal third-period comeback win thanks in part to Alex DeBrincat’s tying goal with 1:33 remaining in regulation. Celebrini became the eighth player in NHL history with as many before age 21 after Wayne Gretzky (73), Mario Lemieux (31), Sidney Crosby (30), Jimmy Carson (29), Dale Hawerchuk (26), Larouche (24) and Rob Brown (23).
QUICK CLICKS
* Panthers fans welcome back Kraken forward Mackie Samoskevich with ovation
* Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet gives game puck to radio broadcaster Jason Myrtetus
* Gavin McKenna had ‘good talk’ with Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller after benching
* Stars hope to begin contract talks with Jason Robertson in December
* Young Islanders fan battling cancer joins Matthew Schaefer for pregame interview
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NHL’S LEADING GOAL SCORER SET FOR SUNDAY’S ACTION
Kirill Kaprizov (9-5—14 in 8 GP) and his NHL-leading nine goals will be in action for a two-game Sunday when the Wild (5-2-1, 11 points) put their perfect 3-0-0 home record on the line against the Blue Jackets (3-3-0, 6 points). Kaprizov, who can become the sixth active player to reach 10 goals in nine games or fewer in a season, owns a goals-per game average of 0.59 – among the top 10 in NHL history (min. 100 GP) and the second highest among active skaters behind Auston Matthews (0.62).
