NHL NEWS NOVEMBER 1, 2022 – HOCKEY FIGHT CANCER MONTH BEGINS TODAY

Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint initiative between the NHL and NHLPA, enters its 24th year. The annual campaign has raised over $32 million, uniting the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families since 1998. The month-long initiative will feature Club activations, special events, observances and stories from people around the hockey community.

• Continuing the tradition, all 32 NHL Clubs will host a Hockey Fights Cancer in-game awareness night with original storytelling, special ceremonies and fundraising efforts for local charities.
• Click here for more information about Hockey Fights Cancer and how you can get involved.

THOMPSON TALLIES SIX POINTS AS SABRES ERUPT FOR EIGHT GOALS ON HALLOWEEN

Tage Thompson (3-3—6) became the sixth different player in franchise history with six points in a game and first since Pat LaFontaine nearly 30 years ago (1-5—6 on Feb. 10, 1993) as Buffalo buried eight goals to defeat Detroit and improve to 6-3-0 (12 points).

• Thompson scored the 22nd Halloween hat trick in NHL history and third by a Sabres player, following Geoff Sanderson in 1998 and Richard Martin in 1973.

MARCHAND, CROSBY CAN REACH 800-POINT, 900-ASSIST MARK TUESDAY

Bruins forward Brad Marchand and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby can reach the 800-point and 900-assist milestone, respectively, as two-dozen NHL teams take to the ice Tuesday.

• Marchand (353-445—798 in 875 GP), who amassed 2-1—3 in his season debut on Oct. 27, needs two points to become the seventh player in franchise history to record 800 with Boston. Longtime teammate David Pastrnak (7-10—17 in 9 GP) has multiple points in each of his last four games and 17 overall for the League-leading Bruins (8-1-0, 16 points), who can record nine wins through 10 games in a season for the first time in club history.
• Crosby (521-899—1,420 in 1,117 GP), who has 4-7—11 in nine games this season, needs one helper to become the 20th player in NHL history to reach 900 and first since Joe Thornton with the Sharks on March 19, 2015. Crosby also enters Tuesday just one point back of passing Adam Oates (341-1,079—1,420 in 1,337 GP) for sole possession of 18th place on the League’s all-time list.

RED WINGS ASSIGN GIVANI SMITH TO GRIFFINS

The Detroit Red Wings today assigned right wing Givani Smith to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Smith, 24, has skated in two games with the Red Wings during the 2022-23 season, recording three shots and four hits in 9:57 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound forward has also tallied one assist and four penalty minutes in three games with the Griffins to begin the campaign. Smith spent the entire 2021-22 season with the Red Wings, logging seven points (4-3-7) and a team-high 108 penalty minutes in 46 games. He became the first Detroit skater to compile more than 100 penalty minutes in a single season since Justin Abdelkader accumulated 120 penalty minutes in 2015-16. In total, Smith has registered 14 points (7-7-14) and 138 penalty minutes in 85 NHL games with Detroit and 48 points (24-24-48) and 221 penalty minutes in 132 AHL contests for Grand Rapids.

McDavid, Pastrnak and Panarin Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for October

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of October.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid paced the NHL with nine goals and 18 points in nine games (9-9—18) to propel the Oilers to a 6-3-0 (12 points) October. McDavid began 2022-23 with his second career season-opening hat trick (Oct. 12 vs. VAN: 3-1—4), helping him become the sixth-fastest player in League history to reach the 700-point milestone (488 GP). Overall, McDavid – who also shared the League lead with five power-play goals and eight power-play points (5-3—8) – found the scoresheet in seven of his nine appearances, highlighted by a League-best three four-point performances (also Oct. 20 vs. CAR: 1-3—4 and Oct. 27 at CHI: 3-1—4) and pair of hat tricks. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2015 NHL Draft – who is seeking his third consecutive and fifth overall Art Ross Trophy – tops the League with 715 points (83 more than the next-closest player) and 467 assists (62 more than the next-closest player) since making his debut in 2015-16. McDavid’s career average of 1.44 points per game (248-467—715 in 496 GP) ranks fourth all-time among players with a minimum of 100 NHL appearances, behind only Wayne Gretzky (1.92), Mario Lemieux (1.88) and Mike Bossy (1.50).

SECOND STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS

Pastrnak finished second in the NHL with 7-10—17 in nine contests to power the Bruins (8-1-0, 16 points) to the top of the League standings via their best nine-game start to a season – both in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 98-year history. Pastrnak also got off to a quick start in 2022-23, registering 1‑3—4 Oct. 12 at WSH for his second career season-opening four-point performance – a feat achieved by only six other players in NHL history. He ultimately collected points in seven of his nine appearances, including a pair of three-point outings (Oct. 18 at OTT: 1-2—3 and Oct. 27 vs. DET: 1-2—3) and a run of four straight multi-point games to close the month (Oct. 22-28: 4-5—9). The 25th overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft – who placed among the top 10 in October in shots on goal (3rd; 50), goals (t‑4th; 7), assists (t-4th; 10), power-play assists (t-6th; 5) and power-play points (t-6th; 7) – shares ninth place in the League with 247 career goals since making his debut in 2014-15 (247-274—521 in 519 GP).

THIRD STAR – ARTEMI PANARIN, LW, NEW YORK RANGERS

Panarin ranked third in the NHL with 5-11—16 in 10 outings to guide New York to a 5-3-2 month (12 points). Aided by a pair of four-point performances (Oct. 13 at MIN: 1-3—4 and Oct. 17 vs. ANA: 1‑3—4), Panarin became the first Rangers player since Jaromir Jagr in 2006-07 (3-15—18) with 16 or more points through the team’s first 10 games of a season. Panarin – who tied for second in assists (11) and shared the League lead in power-play assists (7) and power-play points (8) – did so by finding the scoresheet in eight of his 10 appearances, capped by a three-point outing on his 31st birthday: Oct. 30 at ARI (1-2—3). The undrafted winner of the 2015-16 Calder Memorial Trophy has compiled 192-393—585 in 518 career NHL games, trailing only three players in points – McDavid (715), Patrick Kane (632) and Leon Draisaitl (623) – since making his League debut.