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Detroit Red Wings - In Play! magazine
This victory marks the second consecutive win for Detroit over Toronto, giving them a 2-0 lead in the season series. File photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
14
Oct

NHL REVIEW OCTOBER 13, 2025 – Detroit Red Wings Dominate Toronto Maple Leafs

The Detroit Red Wings continued their early season dominance over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Scotiabank Arena on Monday afternoon. In a game that featured late-game dramatics, Mason Appleton emerged as the hero, scoring the game-winning goal with just 44.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

Detroit goaltender Cam Talbot was phenomenal between the pipes, stopping 38 of 40 Toronto shots. His performance included several spectacular saves, particularly against Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews and forward Nicholas Robertson, which kept the Red Wings in the game during Toronto’s offensive surges.

For Toronto, rookie Easton Cowan—the 28th overall pick in the 2023 draft and considered the Leafs’ top prospect—made his NHL debut, adding significance to the afternoon matchup despite the disappointing result for the home team.

With this victory, Detroit improved to 2-1-0 on the season and served notice that they’re a team to watch in the competitive Atlantic Division race.

WILD SHOW POWER-PLAY PROWESS, WITHSTAND KINGS RALLY TO WIN

After the Wild’s Jared Spurgeon (1-0—1), Kirill Kaprizov (1-0—1) and Matt Boldy (1-0—1) each potted power-play goals in a span of 2:29 in the first period, the Kings battled back in the final frame to force extra time, but Marco Rossi scored in the shootout to end Los Angeles’ rally and lift Minnesota to victory.

  • Kaprizov and Boldy scored their goals 20 seconds apart on the man advantage, marking the third-fastest two power-play goals in franchise history behind 11-second spans on both Dec. 5, 2014 and Nov. 5, 2007. It also marked the fastest two power-play goals League wide since Nov. 24, 2023 (TBL; 0:14).
  • Kaprizov and Boldy both boosted their totals to 3-4—7 in 2025-26, which is tied with Antti Miettinen (5-2—7 in 2008-09) for the second-most points in Wild history through the first three games of a season behind only Mikko Koivu (1-8—9 in 2008-09). Kaprizov and Boldy trail only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (4-4—8 in 4 GP) and Martin Necas (3-5—8 in 4 GP) for the League-lead in points.

CENTRAL DIVISION CLUBS COLLECT WINS MONDAY

A total of six Central Division clubs found the win column Monday, with the Avalanche and Predators being the two among that cohort to keep their season-opening point streaks alive.

  • Cale Makar, who was skating in his 399th NHL game, netted the winner with his 117th career goal to help the Avalanche improve to 3-0-1 in 2025-26. Only five defensemen in League history have scored at least that many goals through the 400-game milestone: Bobby Orr (150), Paul Coffey (148), Denis Potvin (128), Ray Bourque (124) and George Boucher (117).
  • Jonathan Marchessault scored two of four goals as the Predators found the back of the net at least four times in a road opener for the sixth time in franchise history, following 2005-06 (5), 2006-07 (5), 2021-22 (4), 2019-20 (4) and 2002-03 (4). Nashville improved to 2-0-1 in 2025-26 and posted a three-game point streak to start a season for the sixth time. The others: 2005-06 (8-0-1), 2010-11 (5-0-3), 2014-15 (5-0-2), 2015-16 (3-0-0) and 2012-13 (1-0-2).
  • Spencer Knight stopped 22 of 23 shots faced to guide Chicago to its first win of the season. Knight (98 GP) became the sixth active U.S.-born goaltender to reach 50 wins prior to his 100th career game. The others: Jeremy Swayman (83 GP), Jake Oettinger (93 GP), Jonathan Quick (94 GP), John Gibson (95 GP) and Connor Hellebuyck (97 GP).
  • The Blues improved to 2-1-0 this season thanks in part to Jimmy Snuggerud’s first career multi-goal game. Snuggerud became the League’s first rookie with a multi-goal outing in 2025-26 and the Blues’ first rookie with a game winner since Jake Neighbours (March 23, 2023).
  • The Jets took an early 2-0 lead as Jonathan Toews (0-1—1) collected his first NHL point since April 13, 2023 and then iced their 5-2 win with an empty netter from Mark Scheifele assisted by Kyle Connor – who became the fourth player in franchise history with 300 career assists.

SCHAEFER CONTINUES POINT-PRODUCING WAYS TO BEGIN CAREER

Matthew Schaefer (0-1—1) – with at least 25:00 of time on ice in each of the past two contests – found the score sheet for a third straight game to begin his career with the Islanders and became the first defenseman, age 18 or younger, in NHL history to register a season-opening point streak of at least three games. Overall, he became the third 18-year-old blueliner to start his career with a three-game point streak (at any point of the season), alongside Phil Housley (4 GP in 1982-83) and Jakob Chychrun (3 GP in 2016-17).

  • Schaefer became the first defenseman drafted with the No. 1 pick to record a point in each of his first three career games. Only five others, regardless of position, have done so in the past 30 years: Alex Ovechkin (8 GP in 2005-06), Sidney Crosby (6 GP in 2005-06), John Tavares (3 GP in 2009-10), Nathan MacKinnon (3 GP in 2013-14) and Connor Bedard (3 GP in 2023-24).

VETERANS SPOTLIGHTED

Anze Kopitar and Sean Couturier were some of the veterans who achieved notable feats for their teams Monday.

  • Couturier (2-2—4) led Philadelphia to its first win of 2025-26 by recording his third career game with multiple goals and assists. The only other Flyers players in the past 25 years with as many outings are Claude Giroux (4x) and Mike Richards (4x).
  • Kopitar (0-1—1) collected an assist during the Kings’ three-goal rally to help them salvage a point in their shootout loss to the Wild. In doing so, Kopitar (0-4—4 in 4 GP) recorded his third career season-opening assist streak of at least four games (also 2019-20 & 2009-10), marking the most in franchise history.

ESPN DOUBLEHEADER FEATURES MILESTONES, STREAKS

A doubleheader on ESPN opens with Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals clashing with Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning – both with milestones within reach – and closes with a Central Division showdown between the Wild and Stars.

Get set for the Lightning at Capitals

  • Nikita Kucherov (359-637—996 in 806 GP) is four points away from hitting 1,000 in his career and can become the fourth-fastest player born outside North America to reach the milestone, following Peter Stastny (682 GP), Jari Kurri (716 GP) and Jaromir Jagr (763 GP). Since entering the NHL in 2013-14, Kucherov has recorded 33 four-point games which is the second most among all skaters, behind Connor McDavid (41).
  • After capturing the NHL goals record from Wayne Gretzky (894-1,963—2,857 in 1,487 GP) last season, Alex Ovechkin (897-728—1,625 in 1,494 GP) enters Tuesday three goals shy of 900 in his career and can become the first player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
  • Ovechkin (51-46—97 in 83 GP) enters Tuesday three points away from recording 100 against the Lightning. The only other franchises he has as many against are the Hurricanes (52-55—107 in 93 GP) and the Jets/Thrashers (57-45—102 in 75 GP).

Get set for Minnesota at Dallas

  • Kirill Kaprizov (3-4—7 in 3 GP) has found the score sheet in all three Wild contests in 2025-26 and can record his third straight season-opening point streak of at least four games. The only other players in the past 30 years to also achieve that feat in at least three straight seasons are Daniel Sedin (5 from 2010-11 – 2014-15), Brad Richards (4 from 2009-10 – 2012-13), Daniel Alfredsson (4 from 2001-02 – 2005-06) and Jaromir Jagr (4 from 1997-98 – 2000-01).
  • Thomas Harley (1-3—4 in 2 GP) can become the fourth player in Stars/North Stars history to record multiple points in his team’s first three games of a season. He would join Brad Richards (4 GP in 2010-11), Dino Ciccarelli (3 GP in 1986-87) and Tim Young (3 GP in 1976-77).
  • The Stars, one of three undefeated teams remaining this season following a pair of 5-4 wins, can score five or more goals in each of their first three games of a campaign for the first time in franchise history when they face the Wild. Dallas owns an active 14-game point streak against Minnesota (9-0-5) dating to 2021-22 – the third-longest active run in the League (NSH: 16 GP vs. SJS, MIN: 16 GP vs. CHI).
  • Brock Faber, Maple Grove, Min., grew up a Wild fan and is using his platform as a player to give back to his community. Faber’s efforts are inspired by his sister, Paige, who is a star athlete in many sports including adaptive hockey. The brother-sister duo teamed up to raise money for Minnesota Special Hockey as well as the Hendrickson Foundation, an organization that uses hockey to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities.

JARVIS EYES RARE HISTORY FOR PERFECT HURRICANES

The Hurricanes have won each of their first two games of the season and have done so thanks in part to Seth Jarvis (3-0—3 in 3 GP), who can join James Neal (3 GP in 2017-18 w/ VGK) and Brian Propp (3 GP in 1982-83 w/ PHI) as the third player in NHL history to score the game-winning goal in each of their team’s first three or more contests to start a campaign.

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Guest Writer