NHL RECAP OCTOBER 27, 2024 – MacKINNON, MAKAR EXTEND POINT STREAKS AS AVALANCHE WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT

Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2) and Cale Makar (0-1—1) each extended their season-opening point streak to nine games and helped the Avalanche (5-4-0, 10 points) withstand a third-period comeback attempt by the Senators en route to their fifth straight win. Colorado bounced back from a four-game losing streak with five straight wins for just the fourth time in franchise history, with the other instances occurring in 2010-11 (4 L, 6 W), 1985-86 (4 L, 6 W) and 1982-83 (5 L, 5 W).

• Makar became the sixth defenseman in NHL history to start a season with points in nine consecutive games, joining Bobby Orr (15 GP in 1973-74), Doug Wilson (10 GP in 1981-82), Guy Lapointe (10 GP in 1974-75), John-Michael Liles (9 GP in 2010-11) and Randy Carlyle (9 GP in 1979-80).
• Meanwhile, MacKinnon became the fourth player in NHL history to post at least three season-opening point streaks of nine-plus games (also 18 GP in 2019-20 & 15 GP in 2018-19). The others: Wayne Gretzky (5x; longest 51 GP in 1983-84), Mario Lemieux (3x; longest 14 GP in 1986-87) and Ron Francis (3x; longest 13 GP in 1994-95).

NO. 29 CELEBRATES HIS 29TH BIRTHDAY WITH THREE-POINT OUTING IN OILERS WIN
Leon Draisaitl (2-1—3) celebrated his birthday by factoring on two game-tying tallies and netting the overtime winner to lift the Oilers to a comeback victory against the Detroit Red Wings. He recorded his 92nd career three-point game and tied Glenn Anderson for the fifth most in franchise history.

• Draisaitl, who turned 29, scored his 60th career game-tying goal and tied Mark Messier for the fourth most in Oilers history. The only players with more: Jari Kurri (82), Wayne Gretzky (78) and Connor McDavid (62).

HISCHIER, SUZUKI SPOTLIGHT
A number of notes from Sunday’s four-game slate, include Nico Hischier taking the League lead in goals and Nick Suzuki extending his point streak to seven games with another multi-point performance.

• The Devils skated to victory with the help of Hischier, who scored his League-leading ninth tally of the season. He became the second skater in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history to lead the NHL outright in goals (min. 5 goals), following Paul Gardner from Nov. 2-9, 1977 (w/ CLR).
• Suzuki (1-1—2) factored on two of the Canadiens’ four goals as they fended off a late Flyers comeback attempt and extended his point streak to seven games in the process (3-8—11). He became the fifth player in franchise history to record a streak of at least that length four times at age 25 or younger, following Steve Shutt (6x), Guy Lafleur (6x), Shayne Corson (4x) and Bernie Geoffrion (4x).

UNDEFEATED JETS FACE MAPLE LEAFS IN PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY DEBUT

The third installment of Prime Monday Night Hockey will see the undefeated Jets (8-0-0, 16 points) host the Maple Leafs (4-4-1, 9 points) in the first all-Canadian matchup on Prime Video Canada. The Jets, who will appear on Prime Monday Night Hockey for the first time, would be in rarified air with another victory as only the 1993-94 Maple Leafs (10-0-0), 2006-07 Sabres (10-0-0), 2015-16 Canadiens (9-0-0) and 2021-22 Hurricanes (9-0-0) have started a season with nine or more consecutive victories.

• Jets forward Kyle Connor (6-4—10 in 8 GP) has recorded a point in every game this season, tying Blake Wheeler (8 GP in 2015-16) for the longest season-opening point streak in franchise history. The longest point streak of Connor’s career is 10 games, which he achieved in 2022-23 and 2021-22.
• The Jets’ strong start to the season has included a 4-0-0 mark at Canada Life Centre where they have outscored their opponents by an 18-8 mark. Winnipeg can win each of its first five home games of a season for the first time in franchise history (also 4-0-0 in 2021-22).
• The Maple Leafs have won five consecutive games against the Jets dating to March 31, 2022, with the Golden Knights (6-0-0 dating to Oct. 20, 2022) the only franchise with a longer active win steak versus Winnipeg. Auston Matthews has led all Maple Leafs skaters across those five games against the Jets with 5-4—9.

The Maple Leafs have re-signed defenceman Jake McCabe to a five-year contract. The average annual value of the contract is $4.51 million.

McCabe, 31, has posted three assists in nine games with the Maple Leafs during the 2024-25 season. The Eau Claire, WI native has recorded 155 points (33 goals, 122 assists) in 586 career regular season NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres while adding three points (one goal, two assists) in 18 career playoff games.

The 6’1, 212-pound defenceman was first acquired by Toronto in a trade with Chicago on February 27, 2023. McCabe was originally drafted by Buffalo in the second round (44th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

STAMKOS MAKES HIS RETURN TO TAMPA BAY

After being selected with the first overall pick by the Lightning in 2008 and playing his first 16 seasons in Tampa Bay that included captaining the franchise to two Stanley Cup championships and a pair of Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies (2009-10 & 2011-12), Steven Stamkos will enter Amalie Arena as a visitor for the first time when the Predators visit the Lightning exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu in the U.S. as well as on TVA Sports in Canada.

• Stamkos, who captained the Lightning from 2014-15 to 2023-24, returns still holding a multitude of franchise records including all-time regular-season games played (1,082), goals (555), points (1,137), power-play goals (214) and hat tricks (13).
• Stamkos states: “That’s going to be probably the toughest part, emotionally, is just the relationships that my family has had with everyone. The workers in the rink, the staff, everyone within the organization, the friends we’ve made away from the game. That’s the part that gets you, I think.” The story also includes quotes from long-time teammates Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson.

Stone, Saros and Duchene Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros and Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 27.

FIRST STAR – MARK STONE, RW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Stone recorded multiple points in each of his three appearances, leading the NHL with 2-6—8 overall and 1-3—4 on the power play to lift the Golden Knights (6-2-1, 13 points) into first place in the Pacific Division on the strength of a perfect week. Stone posted 1-2—3, highlighted by his 39th career game-winning goal (and 20th w/ VGK), in a 6-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 22. He then collected a pair of assists as Vegas rallied from a trio of deficits to defeat his former team, the Ottawa Senators, 6-4 in a Nevada Day matinee on Oct. 25. Stone finished the week with 1-2—3, his 39th career three-point performance (and 20th w/ VGK), in a 7-3 victory against the San Jose Sharks Oct. 26. The 32-year-old Stone, who captained Vegas to the Stanley Cup in 2022-23, tops the NHL with 4-13—17 through nine total contests this season. He also shares the League lead in assists (13) and power-play points (7).

SECOND STAR – JUUSE SAROS, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros stopped 60 of the 62 shots he faced, going 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage and one shutout to propel the Predators (3-5-0, 6 points) to a 3-0-0 week on the heels of a 0-5-0 start to the season. Saros made 33 saves, including 24 over the final two periods, for his 24th career shutout in a 4-0 win versus the Boston Bruins Oct. 22. He then turned aside 27 shots, including the final 12 against, as Nashville overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, Oct. 25. The 29-year-old Saros, who signed an eight-year extension with the Predators in July, owns a 2-4-0 record, 2.74 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout through six total appearances this season. His 184 career wins and 24 career shutouts (all w/ NSH) both rank second in franchise history, behind only Pekka Rinne.

THIRD STAR – MATT DUCHENE, C, DALLAS STARS

Duchene tallied 3-3—6 in three contests as the Stars (7-2-0, 14 points) earned a pair of wins in advance of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean for this week’s 2024 NHL Global Series Finland presented by Fastenal (Nov. 1-2 vs. FLA). He notched one assist in a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Oct. 22 before registering 1-2—3, his 53rd career three-point performance, in a 5-2 triumph against the Boston Bruins Oct. 24. Duchene then scored twice, including his 51st career game-winning goal, in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 26. The 33-year-old Duchene, now in his second season with Dallas, has found the score sheet in seven of his nine total appearances in 2024-25 to lead the Stars in goals (6) and points (11).

Starting Nov. 1, GEICO and the NHL will launch the “NHL Fourth Star presented by GEICO,” a fan appreciation program that recognizes one dedicated hockey fan alongside the NHL’s monthly “Three Stars” players. The initiative will be featured in arenas across the League, at NHL tentpole events and across NHL digital platforms throughout the 2024-25 season.