A milestone game for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Auston Matthews tallies his first of the season, the Avalanche are off to their worst start in years, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby netted his 1,600th career point and teammate Evgeni Malkin reached the 500-goal plateau in a 6-5 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Crosby scored the winning goal and collected two assists, including setting up Malkin’s milestone goal. Malkin also picked up three assists to lead all NHL scorers with 11 points. JJ Peterka scored twice in his first game with the Sabres since suffering a concussion against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 5.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is the 10th player to reach 1,600 points and the fifth-fastest to do so (1,277 games), sitting behind Wayne Gretzky (667 games), Mario Lemieux (812 games), Marcel Dionne (1,164 games) and Jaromir Jagr (1,274 games).
Malkin is the third player in Penguins history to reach 500 goals, joining Lemieux and Crosby. He’s the eighth European player to do so, following Alex Ovechkin, Jagr, Teemu Selanne, Jari Kurri, Mats Sundin, Marian Hossa and Peter Bondra.
Before this game, the Penguins demoted forward Rutger McGroarty to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored his first goal of the season and his first as team captain to lead his team over the Los Angeles Kings 6-2. Matthews also picked up two assists, Bobby McMann tallied twice and Mitch Marner had three helpers. Alex Turcotte and Kevin Fiala replied for the Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won three straight after dropping their season opener while the Kings have lost three straight since winning their first game of the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kings designated defenseman Joel Edmundson non-roster player status as he left the team to return home for family reasons.
The Colorado Avalanche dropped their fourth-straight game in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. Hampus Lindholm had a goal and an assist and David Pastrnak also scored for the Bruins. Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was 1998-99 when the Avalanche last started a season 0-4-0. That club rallied to finish second overall in the Western Conference with 98 points. Given their sloppy defense and porous goaltending, it remains to be seen if this version can rally back.
An overtime goal by Leo Carlsson lifted the Anaheim Ducks over the Utah Hockey Club 5-4. Pavel Mintyukov scored two goals and Mason McTavish picked up two assists for the Ducks. Jack McBain and Michael Kesselring each had a goal and an assist for Utah.
HEADLINES
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Jake Guentzel is settling in quickly with the Lightning after signing with them during the summer. He’s playing on the top line with center Brayden Point and right wing Nikita Kucherov and has three assists in his first two games.
Point and Lightning coach Jon Cooper praised Guentzel’s skill and hockey IQ. Cooper also noted how calm the 30-year-old winger is in his game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guentzel is used to playing with elite talent after spending several years skating alongside Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. He also showed how well he could adjust to a new team following his trade last March from the Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes.
TSN: Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark missed his last game with a strain but is expected to play in Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.
Defenseman Thomas Chabot is ok after leaving practice on Wednesday following a collision with teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker and won’t miss any playing time. Meanwhile, blueliner Artem Zub will miss at least a week with a concussion.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (upper body) was placed on injured reserve. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is expected to be sidelined short term.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues defenseman Nick Leddy could miss Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury.
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks will recall defenseman Erik Brannstrom and have sent center Aatu Raty to their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks forward William Eklund is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks as he deals with a nagging upper-body injury.
MSN.COM: On Wednesday, Carolina Hurricanes forward Brendan Lemieux and Blue Jackets forward Dylan Gambrell were placed on waivers.