NHL Schedule for October 13 2018

TOP-SCORING PLAYERS, CLUBS SET TO CLASH IN D.C.

Led by Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews, the top two goal-scorers over the past three seasons, the Capitals (18 GF; t-2nd) host the Maple Leafs (25 GF; 1st) in a matchup between two of the highest-scoring teams so far in 2018-19. This marks their first meeting since the 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series on March 3.

• Led by Matthews (9-3—12), Morgan Rielly (3-9—12), John Tavares (6-4—10) and Mitchell Marner (3-7—10), the Maple Leafs have averaged exactly five goals per game en route to a 4-1-0 start to the 2018-19 season.
• Matthews, who has scored at least one goal in every game thus far, can become the 15th player in NHL history to score at least 10 goals in his team’s first six games of a season. Only four have done so in the modern era (since 1943-44): Bobby Hull in 1965-66 w/ CHI, Mike Bossy in 1984-85 w/ NYI, Dino Ciccarelli in 1986-87 w/ MNS and Mario Lemieux in 1988-89 w/ PIT.
• Matthews also can become the sixth player in NHL history to record multiple points in each of his team’s first six games of a season (the five players to do so are noted in the graphic below).
• Rielly can become the third defenseman in NHL history to record at least 13 points in his team’s first six games of a season; the only blueliners to do so are Harry Cameron in 1917-18 with the Toronto Arenas (9-6—15 in 6 GP) and Paul Reinhart in 1989-90 with the Canucks (5-9—14 in 6 GP).
• Additionally, one point on Saturday would give Rielly the franchise record for longest season-opening point streak by a defenseman.

OTHER SURGING PLAYERS EYE FRANCHISE RECORDS

Several other surging players in action Saturday can either set or match franchise records:

• Dallas forward Tyler Seguin, who posted 2-2—4 on Oct. 6 and 1-3—4 on Oct. 9, can become the first player in Stars/North Stars franchise history to record at least four points in three consecutive team games. In fact, Seguin can become just the 10th different player in NHL history to do so and first since Detroit’s Steve Yzerman from March 5-10, 1993 (2-10—12 in 3 GP). Meanwhile, teammate Alexander Radulov aims to become the fourth player in franchise history to score a goal in each of the team’s first four games of the season.
• Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (5-1—6 in 4 GP) looks to extend his season-opening goal streak to five games. MacKinnon can become the second player in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history to score at least one goal in each of the team’s first five games of a season; he would join Mats Sundin, who did so in 1992-93 (5-2—7 in 5 GP).
• Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (4-3—7 in 4 GP) vies to extend his season-opening point streak to five contests. Pettersson can become the second player in franchise history to record at least one point in each of his first five career NHL games (all w/ VAN); he would join Don Tannahill, who accomplished the feat in 1972-73 (3-2—5 in 5 GP).

TEAMS LOOK TO EXTEND SEASON-OPENING POINT STREAKS

Three of four teams without a regulation loss in 2018-19 are in action Saturday and can each extend their season-opening point streaks to five games:

• The Blackhawks (2-0-2) host the Blues (1-1-1) at United Center. Chicago has earned at least one point in each of its first five games 10 times in franchise history and just twice within the past 40 years – the Blackhawks opened 2014-15 with a 4-0-1 record and 2012-13 with 21-0-3 mark, the latter standing as the longest season-opening point streak by a team in NHL history (24 GP).
• The Ducks (3-0-1) take on the Stars (2-1-0) at American Airlines Center. Anaheim has earned at least one point in each of its first five games to begin a season on one prior occasion, doing so in 2006-07 (12-0-4) en route to capturing the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
• The Hurricanes (3-0-1) visit the Wild (1-1-1) at Xcel Energy Center. Carolina can match its franchise record for longest season-opening point streak (5 GP), a mark set by the Hartford Whalers in 1995-96 (4-0-1).

Twenty-eight of 31 teams will take to the ice Saturday in the first 14-game day of the season.

Edmonton@ NY Rangers	1:00 PM ET
Vegas@ Philadelphia	1:00 PM ET
Los Angeles@ Ottawa	2:00 PM ET
Detroit@ Boston	3:00 PM ET
Carolina@ Minnesota	6:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh@ Montréal	7:00 PM ET
Columbus@ Tampa Bay	7:00 PM ET
Vancouver@ Florida	7:00 PM ET
Toronto@ Washington	7:00 PM ET
NY Islanders@ Nashville	8:00 PM ET
Anaheim@ Dallas	8:00 PM ET
St. Louis@ Chicago	8:30 PM ET
Buffalo@ Arizona	9:00 PM ET
Calgary@ Colorado	10:00 PM ET

NHL Statement on Reduction of Austin Watson Suspension

The National Hockey League released the following statement regarding an arbitrator’s decision in the NHLPA’s appeal of Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson’s League-imposed suspension for domestic assault:

“We have reviewed Arbitrator Shyam Das’ opinion in the NHLPA’s appeal of Austin Watson’s suspension for domestic assault which reduced the League-imposed suspension of 27 games to 18 games. We are disappointed with the Arbitrator’s decision. We firmly believe that the right of appeal to an arbitrator of League discipline was never intended to substitute the arbitrator’s judgment for that of the Commissioner, particularly on matters of important League policy and the articulation of acceptable standards of conduct for individuals involved in the National Hockey League.

“The NHL remains committed to continuing to do what we believe is right. And, in this regard, we intend to continue our steadfast efforts to ensure everyone in our League is adequately educated and sensitized to the importance of this serious social issue. We will not hesitate to adhere to and enforce – through firm discipline as necessary – the standards of personal conduct we feel are appropriate for our League.”

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