* Some of the NHL’s brightest rookies showcased their point-producing ways Monday night as James Hagens (BOS) outdueled Trevor Connelly (VGK) and Michael Brandsegg–Nygård (DET) netted the winning tally in Florida.
* Nathan MacKinnon hit the 25-point mark and helped the Avalanche score five straight tallies en route to their second multi-goal comeback win of the season.
* Connor McDavid will look to extend his season-opening point streak to 16 games when the Oilers and Devils face off on ESPN+ and Sportsnet during Tuesday’s 11-game slate.
ALL EYES ON THE ROOKIES MONDAY NIGHT
Three of the NHL’s four highest-scoring rookies found the score sheet Monday night as Boston’s James Hagens (1st; 1-0—1), Vegas’ Trevor Connelly (3rd; 1-0—1) and Detroit’s Michael Brandsegg–Nygård (4th; 1-1—2) seized the spotlight.
* Hagens scored the first of two Bruins goals as Boston withstood a Vegas comeback to earn its sixth straight home win – tied with Tampa Bay (also active) for the longest by any team in 2026-27. Hagens, who celebrates his 20th birthday today, is on pace to become the fifth Bruins rookie with a 30-goal campaign and can become the franchise’s first rookie to lead the team in goals (tied or outright) since Sergei Samsonov (22 in 1997-98).
*Connelly has found the score sheet in three of his past four contests and has factored on a game-tying tally in two of his past three points (0-1—1 on Oct. 24 at CBJ). He collected his 10th career point Tuesday (16 GP) and required the second-fewest games by a Golden Knights rookie to hit the mark behind Braeden Bowman (14 GP in 2025-26).
* The Panthers tied the game on two occasions but Brandsegg-Nygård assisted on the Red Wings’ go-ahead goal in the third period and scored the eventual game winner 45 seconds later as Detroit earned its third win in four contests. The 21-year-old became the sixth Norwegian player in NHL history with a game-winning goal alongside Mats Zuccarello (40), Emil Lilleberg (3), Patrick Thoresen (2), Espen Knutsen (2) and Andreas Martinsen (1) – he is the youngest of the group to score a winning tally.
MacKINNON ADDS TO TOTALS AS AVALANCHE RALLY TO VICTORY
The Blackhawks took an early 2-0 lead but Nathan MacKinnon (0-1—1) hit the 25-point mark and helped the Avalanche rally back with five straight tallies to earn their second multi-goal comeback win of the season – the only team with more is Buffalo (4).
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* The Avalanche benefited from a pair of goals in 26 seconds during the opening frame, their fastest two tallies on the road since Feb. 13, 2024 (0:26). Colorado has scored a pair of goals within a 30-second span three times this season, tied with Edmonton for the second-most instances behind Montreal (4).
WOLF’S WINNING WAYS FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Dustin Wolf stopped 26 of 27 shots to improve to 11-2-0 all-time against the Sharks as Calgary quelled a late comeback attempt in San Jose. Find more notes on Monday’s slate in #NHLStats: Live Updates.
QUICK CLICKS
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* Matthew Schaefer, family honor mom with dedicated kids room at cancer center
* NHL, Fanatics unveil Hometown Remix Uniforms for all 32 teams
McDAVID COULD FACE HELLEBUYCK ON ESPN+, SPORTSNET
The NHL’s hottest offensive player, Connor McDavid (9-30—39 in 15 GP), has recorded a point in every Oilers game this season and could face Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2-0-0) for the first time since the gold medal game of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina should they both hit the ice for tonight’s contest on ESPN+ and Sportsnet.
* McDavid has already set an NHL record for longest assist streak to start a season (15 GP, still active) and should he extend his point streak to 16 games, it would match the 12th-longest season-opening point streak, a list McDavid is already on (17 GP in 2021-22).
* McDavid (11-40—51 in 32 GP) has factored on 51 goals scored on Hellebuyck, McDavid’s most points accrued against any goaltender in his career. Hellebuyck has a 15-14-3 record in those 32 contests (2.99 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO). Additionally, Leon Draisaitl’s 21 regular-season goals versus Hellebuyck are both Draisaitl’s most against any goaltender and the most Hellebuyck has given up to one shooter.
* McDavid and Hellebuyck both have their names etched on the Hart Trophy. McDavid has been the recipient of the award three times, tied with Alex Ovechkin for the most among active skaters, while Hellebuyck is one of four goaltenders in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to win the award alongside Dominik Hasek (2x), Jose Theodore and Carey Price.
