* Jacob Fowler followed up his 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic victory with a 46-save shutout and extended his winning streak to six games, while Connor Hellebuyck allowed just one goal against during his Devils debut approximately 330 miles from where he played junior hockey.
* Matthew Schaefer became the first skater on record to play all five minutes of an overtime period (since 2009-10 when real-time TOI data was officially tracked) en route to helping the Islanders quell a three-goal comeback attempt by the Predators.
* Connor McDavid continues his scorching start to the season when the Oilers host the Flames during NHL on Prime’s Wednesday Night Hockey in the campaign’s first of four “Battle of Aberta” games. Tonight’s slate also features an NHL on TNT contest with Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals opening their season series against the Flyers.
FOWLER KEEPS WIN STREAK FLOWING WITH 46-SAVE SHUTOUT
After having his shutout bid foiled late in the third period of the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on Sunday, Jacob Fowler stopped all 46 shots he faced Tuesday to extend his personal winning streak to six games. The 21-year-old set the Canadiens record for saves in a shutout by a rookie (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked), besting Cayden Primeau (41 on March 12, 2024) and Tony Esposito (41 on Dec. 21, 1968).
* Fowler became the third goaltender in Canadiens history to post a six-game winning streak at age 21 or younger, following Carey Price (7 GP in 2007-08; age 20) and Rogie Vachon (6 GP in 1966-67; age 21). He also won his seventh straight road contest dating to last season – only three rookie netminders in NHL history have posted a longer run: Brent Johnson (11 GP from 1998-99 to 2000-01), Joseph Woll (8 GP from 2022-23 to 2023-24) and Pelle Lindbergh (8 GP from 1982-83).
* Florian Xhekaj netted his first career tally and combined with Arber Xhekaj to become the 12th pair of brothers in Canadiens history to both score a goal for the franchise. The last set of brothers to do so were Sergei Kostitsyn (first goal: Dec. 20, 2007)and Andrei Kostitsyn (first goal: Dec. 13, 2005).
Decorated goaltender Hellebuyck defeats Dallas in Devils debut
Connor Hellebuyck, acquired by New Jersey in a blockbuster trade on Oct. 23, denied 17 of 18 shots against to earn a win in his Devils debut at American Airlines Center.
* Hellebuyck became the first Vezina Trophy recipient to appear in a game with New Jersey since its executive VP of hockey operations Martin Brodeur, who captured the award four times (2007-08, 2006-07, 2003-04 & 2002-03) en route to becoming the winningest goaltender in NHL history. Hellebuyck has three career Vezina wins (2024-25, 2023-24 & 2019-20) – the League’s most by an American netminder – and was the first goaltender to capture the award in consecutive seasons since Brodeur.
* Hellebuyck played alongside Jack Hughes (1-1—2) for the first time since the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 finale, when the former made 41 saves and the latter had the clinching goal to give Team USA its first gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice.” Brodeur backstopped the Devils to a Stanley Cup one season after his gold medal-clinching win, a feat Hellebuyck can replicate during the 2026-27 campaign.
CANUCKS COMPLETE THREE-GOAL, THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK WIN
The Ducks took a 5-2 lead with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, but that was enough time for the Canucks to score three straight, including two from Jonathan Lekkerimäki, to force overtime. Filip Hronek played hero in the extra frame with his first career overtime goal and lifted Vancouver to the first three-goal, third-period comeback win of the season.
* Lekkerimäki (22 years, 95 days) tallied the final two regulation goals in a span of 49 seconds and became the sixth-youngest Canucks player to score twice within a minute. He trails Brent Ashton (20 years, 240 days on Jan. 13, 1981), Jere Gillis (20 years, 295 days on Nov. 9, 1977), Don Lever (21 years, 126 days on March 20, 1974), Harold Druken (21 years, 317 days on Dec. 8, 2000) and Stan Smyl (22 years, 39 days on March 7, 1980).
* The Canucks recorded a three-goal, third-period comeback win for the sixth time in franchise history. Their three-goal comeback started at the 12:54 mark of the third period – they’ve earned a three-goal comeback win after starting their rally later in a game just once before: 19:00 on April 8, 2025. That contest marked the latest comeback time for a three-goal come-from-behind victory in NHL history.
PANTHERS PLAYMAKERS CONTINUE TO PILE UP ASSISTS IN OCTOBER
Matthew Tkachuk (0-4—4) and Seth Jones (0-3—3) again proved to be potent playmakers for the Panthers as the former climbed an all-time list with his sixth career four-assist game and the latter joined rare company in NHL history with his second three-assist period this month.
* Tkachuk (105-203—308 in 255 GP) became the fastest player in Panthers history to reach 200 career assists with the franchise and did so after boosting his totals this month to 4-16—20 (13 GP). He joined Jonathan Huberdeau (19 in Jan. 2022 & 16 in Dec. 2019) and Aleksander Barkov (17 in March 2019 & 16 in Nov. 2024) as the third player in team history with 16 or more helpers in a single month.
* Jones, who also posted 0-3—3 during the third period on Oct. 13, joined Paul Coffey (P2 on Feb. 2, 1990 & P3 on Feb. 6, 1990) as the second defenseman in NHL history to record multiple three-assist periods in a single month. Of note, two accomplished the feat during the Stanley Cup Playoffs: Coffey (3x in May 1985) and Miro Heiskanen (2x in August 2020).
* Jones, the 14th defenseman in NHL history with at least four career three-assist periods, boosted his October totals to 1-14—15 (12 GP). With one game remaining before the calendar flips to November (Oct. 30 vs. WPG), Jones needs one assist and two points to tie Keith Yandle (2-15—17 in March 2018) for the most by a defenseman in a single month in franchise history.
Schaefer skating entire overtime period featured in #NHLStats: Live Updates
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 11-game slate. Some highlights include:
* Sebastian Aho scored his franchise record-extending 69th career game-winning goal as the League-leading Hurricanes (10-2-2, 22 points) joined a rare list of reigning Stanley Cup champions to reach the 10-win mark in 14 games or fewer. Pyotr Kochetkov (14 saves) extended his season-opening winning streak to eight games and tied the club mark set by Frederik Andersen (8 GP in 2021-22).
* Kirill Kaprizov (1-1—2) and Quinn Hughes (0-2—2) continued their productive month as Kaprizov (14-9—23 in 14 GP) became the eighth player in NHL history to score at least 14 goals in a single October, while Hughes (3-15—18 in 14 GP) became the third defenseman since 1992-93 to record 18-plus points in that timeframe, following John Carlson (7-16—23 in 2019) and Cale Makar (4-15—19 in 2024).
* Zach Werenski (0-2—2) helped the Blue Jackets build a 3-0 first-period lead before Jamie Drysdale tied the game with 11 seconds remaining in regulation, but the reigning Norris Trophy winner collected an assist on the overtime winner to help Columbus improve to 5-0-1 in its last six games in Philadelphia – its longest active road point streak against one opponent.
* Matthew Schaefer (0-1—1) factored on the Islanders third goal of the night to give them a 3-0 lead and reached 70 career points in the process, but the Predators rallied with three straight goals of their own to force extra time. Schaefer would go on to play the entire overtime period before his team went on to win in a shootout.
QUICK CLICKS
* Connor Hellebuyck impresses in first start with Devils: ‘He was exceptional’
* Kasperi Kapanen picking up speed with some of NHL’s fastest skating for Oilers
* Ben Kindel practices with Penguins, wants to ‘move forward’ following health scare
* Andre Lacroix, original member of Flyers, WHA’s all-time leading scorer, dies at 81
* #NHLStats Fact Sheet: Hockey Halloween
Wednesday has “Battle of Alberta” on Prime, Ovechkin facing Flyers on TNT
Tonight’s schedule is highlighted by League scoring leader Connor McDavid (8-26—34 in 12 GP) looking to continue his 237-point pace when the Oilers host the Flames during NHL on Prime’s Wednesday Night Hockey as well as Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals opening their season series against the Flyers in the latest NHL on TNT contest.
* McDavid leads Edmonton into the campaign’s first “Battle of Alberta” game and 47th of his career. He can extend his season-opening point streak to 13 contests, while fan favorite Devin Cooley is 4-0-0 in his last four appearances dating to Oct. 18 (1.50 GAA, .955 SV%).
* Ovechkin has 54 career goals versus Philadelphia, his second most against one franchise behind Winnipeg (58; including 30 vs. Atlanta Thrashers). Ovechkin’s 54 career tallies versus the Flyers mark the second most in NHL history behind Sidney Crosby (60).
