* The latest instalment of the ‘Battle of Alberta’ watched an NHL record established as Connor McDavid became the first player in League history with a season-opening assist streak of 13 games – and did so with his second career 25-assist month.
* Gavin McKenna factored on three game-tying goals for the Maple Leafs but the Kraken prevailed in a back-and-forth thriller after Brandon Montour scored the second latest go-ahead goal in franchise history.
* An 11-game Thursday sees Patrick Kane return to Detroit for the first time since rejoining Chicago when the Blackhawks visit the Red Wings on ESPN+ and Sportsnet+ as he looks to become the 21st player in NHL history – and first American – to reach the 900-assist milestone.
McDAVID ADDS NHL RECORD TO HIS RESUME DURING ‘BATTLE OF ALBERTA’
There have been 306 games played (regular season & playoffs) in the ‘Battle of Alberta’, but Connor McDavid (0-2—2) added an NHL first to the history of the rivalry as he collected his first point in the opening eight minutes of the contest and established the longest season-opening assist streak in League history. He broke a tie with Sebastian Aho (12 GP in 2018-19), Ken Linseman (12 GP in 1985-86) and Wayne Gretzky (12 GP in 1982-83).
* McDavid’s playmaking prowess has been on full display to start 2026-27, and October specifically, as the Oilers captain boosted his totals this month to 8-26—34. He already owned the most assists in a single October in NHL history, registered his second career 25-assist month (also 25 in Feb. 2024) and overtook Gretzky (11-22—33 in 1986) for the third-most points in a single October in League history (behind Mario Lemieux: 16-22—38 in 1988 & 16-20—36 in 1992).
MONTOUR SCORES LATE WINNER AS KRAKEN OUTLAST MAPLE LEAFS IN THRILLER
Gavin McKenna (2-1—3) scored two game-tying goals and then teamed up with Auston Matthews (1-2—3) to knot the game with 1:30 remaining in regulation but Brandon Montour (1-0—1) potted the decisive tally with 33 seconds left on the clock to help the Kraken outlast the Maple Leafs in a back-and-forth thriller.
* Montour scored the latest go-ahead goal by a defenseman in Kraken history, and the second latest by any Seattle skater behind Oliver Bjorkstrand (59:28 on Nov. 9, 2023). Montour’s winner also marked the second-latest go-ahead tally in the NHL this season following Maple Leafs defenseman Troy Stecher (59:32 on Oct. 22).
* McKenna (18 years, 312 days) notched his first career multi-goal game and three-point outing and became the youngest Maple Leafs player to achieve those feats in more than 80 years. The last younger player to score two goals in a game for Toronto was Jack Hamilton (18 years, 262 days on Feb. 19, 1944), while Ted Kennedy (18 years, 84 days on March 5, 1944) was the last to record a three-point performance at a younger age.
* McKenna (5-6—11 in 15 GP) also became just the third 18-year-old in the past 80 years to score at least five goals in a season for the Maple Leafs, joining Jim Benning (7-24—31 in 1981-82) and Vincent Damphousse (9-6—15 in 1986-87).
BURNS MOVES INTO TOP 10 IN SCORING AMONG DEFENSEMEN IN NHL HISTORY
Brent Burns (0-2—2) factored on two of five straight Avalanche goals, including the game winner, and boosted his career totals to 273-677—950 – overtaking Chris Chelios (185-763—948) and Erik Karlsson (216-732—948) for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time points list among defensemen. He now sits eight points back of Larry Robinson (208-750—958) for ninth.
* Burns, who skated in his 1,020th straight contest and continues to inch closer to Phil Kessel’s “Ironman” record for consecutive games played (1,064 GP), has collected 13-34—47 since turning 40 and tied Allan Stanley (7-40—47) for the fifth most by a defenseman age 40 or older in NHL history; Nicklas Lidstrom (96), Chris Chelios (92), Zdeno Chara (82) and Tim Horton (66) round out the top four.
NEW FACES CONTINUE TO SHINE FOR CAPITALS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured a trio of first-year Capitals players play pivotal roles for the club in their sixth straight home victory against the Flyers: Alex Tuch (2-0—2), Jordan Kyrou (2-0—2) and Jack St. Ivany (0-2—2).
* Tuch’s four multi-goal games in 2026-27 are tied Leon Draisaitl for the most among all skaters and his nine overall passed Brady Tkachuk (8 w/ FLA) for the most by a player skating on a new team this season. The Capitals have 19 goals and 34 points by players skating in their first season with the team, trailing only the Maple Leafs (26 & 69) for the most in both categories.
-29054011.png)
QUICK CLICKS
* Alex Ovechkin farewell tour hitting Nashville brings back memories for Barry Trotz
* Jackson LaCombe ‘complete package’ for Ducks, boosted by Olympic experience with Team USA
* Connor Hellebuyck widens ‘window of winning’ for Devils, Martin Brodeur says
* NHL Power Player experiences magical Heritage Classic in Winnipeg
* Blues announce upcoming Ozzy Osbourne bobblehead
KANE CHASES 900TH ASSIST VS. FORMER TEAM ON ESPN+
Patrick Kane will face his former team for the first time since returning to Chicago as a free agent prior to this season when the Blackhawks visit the Red Wings in a game broadcast on ESPN+ and Sportsnet+. Kane spent three seasons in Detroit, accumulating 57-106—163 in 189 games from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
* Among the memorable moments from Kane’s tenure in Detroit, he passed Mike Modano for most career points by a U.S.-born skater on Jan. 29, 2026 and became the fifth U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal milestone on Jan. 8, 2026.
* Kane (509-899—1,408) enters tonight’s contest chasing down another milestone moment – 900 career assists. He would become the 21st player in NHL history to reach the benchmark and just the second active skater alongside Sidney Crosby (1,111). Kane will step on the ice Thursday riding a three-game assist streak – he recorded an assist streak of four or more games twice during his time in Detroit (5 GP in 2023-24 & 4 GP in 2025-26).
MORE STORYLINES AHEAD OF 11-GAME SLATE
* In the second game of an ESPN+ doubleheader, the Sabres visit the Ducks in a showdown between two teams that not only ended lengthy playoff droughts last season (BUF: 14 seasons; ANA: 7 seasons) but also advanced past the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Buffalo and Anaheim will look to recapture last season’s success and advance up the standings starting with a win Thursday.
* Alex Ovechkin will be on the ice in Nashville when Predators advisor and former head coach and general manager Barry Trotz is inducted into the Preds Golden Hall prior to tonight’s game against the Capitals. Trotz is the longest tenured coach in Predators history (1,196 games coached w/ NSH spanning 15 seasons), has the fifth most career wins of any coach in NHL history and was Washington’s head coach during Ovechkin and the Capitals’ Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
* Sidney Crosby sits three points back of matching Marcel Dionne for sixth on the NHL’s all-time points list as the Penguins host the Mammoth.
* The reigning champion Hurricanes (10-2-2, 22 points) have the best record in the League as they look to continue their strong start to the season just two weeks away from traveling overseas for the 2026 NHL Global Series Finland (Nov. 12 & 14), where they will face the Kraken in a pair of games at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki. Reigning Stanley Cup winning teams have an all-time record of 5-1-0 when appearing in an NHL regular-season game outside North America in the season following their championship.
* Sebastian Aho (Rauma, Finland) needs four goals to tie Eric Staal (322) for second place on the Hurricanes franchise’s all-time list, which is topped by Ron Francis (382). Aho also requires three to match Olli Jokinen (321) for the fourth most in NHL history by a Finnish player.
