16.10.2024
Tampa Bay Lightning 4 - 1 Vancouver Canucks
The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Amalie Arena, with notable contributions from Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel, who each had a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov scored the opener with a sharp snap shot, and the game marked his fourth goal of the season following a hat trick in the season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. Anthony Cirelli extended the lead early in the third period, while Conor Garland provided the sole response for the Canucks. Despite the win, Lightning coach Jon Cooper expressed some frustration with his team's second-period performance but praised their ability to rebound in the third. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet commented on his team's slow start, specifically in the first period. Concluding the game, Hagel added an empty-netter for the final score. Vancouver's Tyler Myers struggled defensively, ending with a minus-2 rating and six penalty minutes.
Washington Capitals 4 - 2 Vegas Golden Knights
In a noteworthy game, Alex Ovechkin reached his 700th NHL assist as the Washington Capitals handed the Vegas Golden Knights their first loss of the season with a 4-2 victory at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin became the 60th player in NHL history to achieve this milestone and joins an elite group of players, including Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, with both 700 goals and assists. Fresh off a trade, Logan Thompson made a successful debut for the Capitals against his old team, while Tom Wilson notched his second goal in as many games. Jakub Vrana, returning to Washington, opened the scoring, with Andrew Mangiapane aiding with an impressive forecheck. Although Victor Olofsson and Jack Eichel managed goals for the Golden Knights, strong performances from the Capitals, particularly during power plays, proved decisive. The game featured intense play with key contributions from both sides, underscoring Ovechkin's significant milestone and Washington's effective strategies against Vegas.
Carolina Hurricanes 4 - 2 New Jersey Devils
In a thrilling contest, the Carolina Hurricanes emerged victorious over the New Jersey Devils with a 4-2 win, highlighted by Pyotr Kochetkov's impressive debut, making 23 crucial saves. The game saw Jackson Blake, son of former NHL player Jason Blake, score his first NHL goal, marking a memorable moment in just his third career game. Carolina also benefited from goals by Seth Jarvis, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Sebastian Aho, who sealed the victory with an empty-netter. The Devils had standout performances from Jack Hughes, who opened the scoring and added an assist, and Jesper Bratt, who notched two assists to extend his point streak to five games. Despite the loss, Devils coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged the Hurricanes' relentless forechecking, and noted his team's struggles to protect goalie Jacob Markstrom, who faced 27 shots. The game also witnessed significant milestones, including Dmitry Orlov's 300th NHL point and Sebastian Aho playing his 600th NHL game.
Columbus Blue Jackets 3 - 4 Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers won a closely contested game 4-3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Sam Reinhart recording a goal and two assists at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday. The game was charged with emotion as it followed a ceremony honoring the late Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, who were tragically killed by an alleged drunk driver. The Blue Jackets aimed for a win in Gaudreau's memory, with coach Dean Evason acknowledging the emotional weight of the loss. The Panthers broke a 2-2 tie with Reinhart scoring just before the end of the second period, and Eetu Luostarinen adding to the lead in the third. Despite James van Riemsdyk's late goal for the Blue Jackets, Florida held on. Goalkeeper Spencer Knight, returning to the NHL after time in the player assistance program, made 35 crucial saves. The emotionally laden game saw both teams paying tribute to Gaudreau, with special moments such as a 13-second pause during the opening face-off and jerseys honoring his legacy. The Panthers were without key players Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk but managed a win fueled by Reinhart's performance and resilience.
St Louis Blues 1 - 4 Minnesota Wild
In a thrilling game at the Enterprise Center, the Minnesota Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-1, highlighted by an extraordinary goalie goal from Filip Gustavsson, marking him as the 15th NHL goalie to achieve the feat. Gustavsson not only stopped 27 shots but also capitalized on a unique opportunity, suggested by teammate Marc-Andre Fleury, to score into an empty net with just nine seconds left in the game. This followed goals from Ryan Hartman, Jakub Lauko, and Marco Rossi, while Kirill Kaprizov contributed two assists. Despite Minnesota missing key players, including Joel Eriksson Ek and captain Jared Spurgeon, they maintained dominance on the ice. For the Blues, Mathieu Joseph managed to net a goal, but coach Drew Bannister lamented that the team, playing in their home opener, failed to capitalize on Minnesota's short-handed roster. Kaprizov's notable ice time and Philip Broberg's continuous point streak were other highlights from a match that celebrated rare goaltending heroics.
Nashville Predators 3 - 7 Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken surged in the third period, scoring four goals to secure a 7-3 victory against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Key performances came from Jaden Schwartz, Jared McCann, Adam Larsson, and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who each recorded a goal and an assist, while goaltender Joey Daccord made 30 saves. The Kraken took advantage of quick plays and efficient puck turnovers to dominate, as highlighted by Bjorkstrand and coach Dan Bylsma. The Predators, with Juuse Saros in goal making 28 saves, struggled with retaining their identity and consistency, as noted by coach Andrew Brunette. The standout moment came when Schwartz gave Seattle a decisive lead early in the third period with a skilled move that beat Saros. In the game, Brandon Tanev redirected a shot to regain the lead after early Nashville comebacks, and Brady Skjei scored his first goal with the Predators, reminding his team of the need to learn and quickly move forward to break their losing streak.
Dallas Stars 3 - 2 San Jose Sharks
The Dallas Stars secured a narrow 3-2 shootout victory against the San Jose Sharks to remain undefeated this season, marking their best start since the 1996-97 campaign. In a tightly contested game, Matt Duchene and Roope Hintz scored in regulation, while Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Duchene were successful in the shootout for Dallas. Goalie Jake Oettinger made crucial saves to maintain their perfect record. The Sharks, despite a strong start with goals from Tyler Toffoli and Ty Dellandrea, couldn't hold on, with Dellandrea scoring his first against his former team. San Jose goalie Mackenzie Blackwood's 36 saves kept the game close, but it wasn't enough to secure the win. The game highlighted Dallas's early season momentum and San Jose's need for improvement, with Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky acknowledging the Stars' strong potential for a successful season.
Calgary Flames 3 - 1 Chicago Blackhawks
The Calgary Flames extended their undefeated streak to four games with a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, tying a franchise record for the best start in a season. Matt Coronato played a key role, scoring twice, including an empty-netter that sealed the win at Scotiabank Saddledome. Andrei Kuzmenko contributed with a power-play goal, while goalie Dustin Wolf made 31 saves, displaying resilience especially when faced with Connor Bedard's attacks. Despite Nick Foligno quickly equalizing after Coronato's first goal, the Blackhawks ended their road trip with a single win from four games. Reflecting on the outcome, Chicago forward Bedard emphasized the need for wins above all. The Flames' early success is attributed to their disciplined system and teamwork, as noted by defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Edmonton Oilers 4 - 3 Philadelphia Flyers
Leon Draisaitl's overtime heroics secured the Edmonton Oilers their first win of the season, edging past the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 at Rogers Place. The dramatic victory was set up by Connor McDavid, who retrieved his own rebound and dished a pivotal assist to a wide-open Draisaitl. Evan Bouchard, Connor Brown, and Adam Henrique also contributed goals for Edmonton, with Bouchard's equalizer in the third period setting the stage for the overtime win. Matvei Michkov shone for the Flyers, netting his first two NHL goals and showcasing his offensive prowess, while Morgan Frost added two assists. Despite the Flyers' strong start and an opportunistic goal from Bobby Brink, the Oilers capitalized on critical plays, illustrating the clutch performances of their key players as noted by coach Kris Knoblauch. Travis Sanheim made his 500th NHL appearance for the Flyers, who showed a promising power play conversion but couldn't close out the game, leaving the Oilers to celebrate a much-needed win as they concluded their early home stand.