It was a quiet night in the NHL on Monday, with four games on the schedule.
Let’s take a look at what caught the eye on a night that wasn’t short on action after all.
The @Canucks extended their home season-opening point streak to six games (5-0-1) and matched their longest such run in the past 12 years (6 GP in 2019-20).#NHLStats: https://t.co/tNF3qs2lyJ pic.twitter.com/1OkwbzBPMq
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 7, 2023
1: Nikita Kucherov and Auston Matthews are excellent
Nikita Kucherov has been one of the best players in the National Hockey League for several seasons now.
It’s not unusual to see the Russian finish the season among the league’s top scorers, and let’s just say that his three 100+ point campaigns since 2017 place him among the elite.
Kuch is off to a good start, by the way: he collected 20 points in his first 12 games of the season…
But what’s impressive is when you realize he has nine points in his last two games. He’s really on a roll, and his four-point night against the Leafs allowed him to join Jack Hughes as the league’s second-highest scorer.
Nikita Kucherov has NINE points in his last four periods of field hockey…
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/v10mAW65Aj
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
When he decides to step up, he’s really good. And it’s rare that he’s not tempted…
The Leafs-Lightning game was crazy, by the way. The score was 4-1 to Tampa after the first period, but Sheldon Keefe’s men never gave up and came from behind. At one point, the Leafs even led 5-4…
But Brendan Hagel scored late in the game to force overtime. The result?
Calle Jarnkrok scored after a fine pass from Morgan Rielly:
THE MAPLE LEAFS WIN
Morgan Rielly sets up Calle Jarnkrok for the @Energizer overtime winner as the @MapleLeafs win a thriller against the Lightning! pic.twitter.com/E74psQQvV8
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
Oh yes, I almost forgot…
Auston Matthews, who has been scoring endlessly since the start of the season, finished yesterday’s game with two goals.
He now has 13 goals so far this season… And more than the Sharks, who have scored twelve times so far.
This is no joke.
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2: The Canucks are unrecognizable
I don’t know what happened in Vancouver over the summer… But it’s working. To everyone’s surprise, the Canucks are simply excellent at the start of the season.
A big challenge awaited the team against the Oilers, who find themselves in a completely opposite situation: in Edmonton, people are already starting to worry because of the setbacks experienced since the start of the campaign.
The Canucks took advantage of their opponents’ lack of confidence to win 6-2.
In the win, Quinn Hughes picked up four more points, giving him 12 in his last four games alone.
He, too, is tied for second in the National League in scoring.
4TH❗️STRAIGHT❗️WIN❗️ pic.twitter.com/vhKZRcFb7P
– Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 7, 2023
The Oilers will have to act fast if they don’t want to screw up their entire season.
When you’ve got two of the best players in the world in your lineup, you’ve got to find ways to win. And right now, that’s what’s not working for Edmonton.
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3: A first NHL goal for John Beecher and Mason Lohrei
Getting to the NHL is hard. It’s very difficult, in fact.
That’s why guys are often really happy when they score their first career goal in the big league. Basically, it’s a reward for all the sacrifices they’ve had to make along the way, and it makes for some good times.
Last night, we were treated to two first career goals… in the same game!
John Beecher and Mason Lohrei, two Boston Bruins players, scored their first goals for the big boys in a win for their club.
The Bruins have continued their excellent (and surprising) start to the season: they now have a 10-1-1 record after 12 games played.
Not many people could have predicted this before the season started…
FIRST NHL GOAL ALERT
Welcome to the club, John Beecher! pic.twitter.com/V28Sb9T0ww
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
We’ve got another first NHL goal for the @NHLBruins!
Congratulations, Mason Lohrei! pic.twitter.com/n12gXtkXBo
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
In gusto
– Carter Verhaeghe gave his team victory in overtime.
S-W-A-G-G-Y
Carter Verhaeghe scores the @Energizer OT winner to secure the extra point! pic.twitter.com/tSMTVaPraE
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– Pius Suter has scored three goals in his last three games.
Three goals in three games for Pius Suter! ✅✅✅#NHLStats: https://t.co/pfMbYnBGr5
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/JED3XNY3IB
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– Whoa.
Sheesh, Mattias Ekholm RIPPED this home…
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/CVgxar8h9M
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– He’s on fire.
Make it a dozen straight games with a point to start the season for William Nylander! pic.twitter.com/kAKBMBEzIX
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– There was emotion in the air in Florida!
CUZ SENDS US TO OT! pic.twitter.com/43ULjMJm1F
– Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) November 7, 2023
– Two goals in eight seconds, that hurts.
TWO GOALS. EIGHT SECONDS APART.
The @MapleLeafs have taken the lead!
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/W5V3OXtESj
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– Mitch Marner makes Leafs history.
Mitchell Marner (0-3-3) surpassed Doug Gilmour (24) for sole possession of the third-most three-assist games in @MapleLeafs history, behind only Darryl Sittler (36) and Borje Salming (29).
Watch the third period on @Sportsnet. #NHLStats: https://t.co/tNF3qs1NJb pic.twitter.com/7wzIvDOoKw
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 7, 2023
– A beautiful goal for the Jackets’ captain.
Captain Boone brings the @BlueJacketsNHL within one! pic.twitter.com/O562ksutOC
– NHL (@NHL) November 7, 2023
– Magnifique!
OH MY MATTY KNIES! pic.twitter.com/XUq8fSrOch
– Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 7, 2023
– A few players were very productive last night :
– Busier NHL schedule tonight :