TOP-SCORING PLAYERS, CLUBS SET TO CLASH IN D.C.

Led by Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews, the top two goal-scorers over the past three seasons, the Capitals (18 GF; t-2nd) host the Maple Leafs (25 GF; 1st) in a matchup between two of the highest-scoring teams so far in 2018-19. This marks their first meeting since the 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series on March 3.

* Led by Matthews (9-3—12), Morgan Rielly (3-9—12), John Tavares (6-4—10) and Mitchell Marner (3-7—10), the Maple Leafs have averaged exactly five goals per game en route to a 4-1-0 start to the 2018-19 season.

* Matthews, who has scored at least one goal in every game thus far, can become the 15th player in NHL history to score at least 10 goals in his team’s first six games of a season. Only four have done so in the modern era (since 1943-44): Bobby Hull in 1965-66 w/ CHI, Mike Bossy in 1984-85 w/ NYI, DinoCiccarelli in 1986-87 w/ MNS and Mario Lemieux in 1988-89 w/ PIT.

* Matthews also can become the sixth player in NHL history to record multiple points in each of his team’s first six games of a season (the five players to do so are noted in the graphic below).

* Rielly can become the third defenseman in NHL history to record at least 13 points in his team’s first six games of a season; the only blueliners to do so are Harry Cameron in 1917-18 with the Toronto Arenas (9-6—15 in 6 GP) and Paul Reinhart in 1989-90 with the Canucks (5-9—14 in 6 GP).

* Additionally, one point on Saturday would give Rielly the franchise record for longest season-opening point streak by a defenseman.

OTHER SURGING PLAYERS EYE FRANCHISE RECORDS

Several other surging players in action Saturday can either set or match franchise records:

* Dallas forward Tyler Seguin, who posted 2-2—4 on Oct. 6 and 1-3—4 on Oct. 9, can become the first player in Stars/North Stars franchise history to record at least four points in three consecutive team games. In fact, Seguin can become just the 10th different player in NHL history to do so and first since Detroit’s Steve Yzerman from March 5-10, 1993 (2-10—12 in 3 GP). Meanwhile, teammate Alexander Radulov aims to become the fourth player in franchise history to score a goal in each of the team’s first four games of the season.

* Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (5-1—6 in 4 GP) looks to extend his season-opening goal streak to five games. MacKinnon can become the second player in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history to score at least one goal in each of the team’s first five games of a season; he would join Mats Sundin, who did so in 1992-93 (5-2—7 in 5 GP).

* Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (4-3—7 in 4 GP) vies to extend his season-opening point streak to five contests. Pettersson can become the second player in franchise history to record at least one point in each of his first five career NHL games (all w/ VAN); he would join Don Tannahill, who accomplished the feat in 1972-73 (3-2—5 in 5 GP).

TEAMS LOOK TO EXTEND SEASON-OPENING POINT STREAKS

Three of four teams without a regulation loss in 2018-19 are in action Saturday and can each extend their season-opening point streaks to five games:

* The Blackhawks (2-0-2) host the Blues (1-1-1) at United Center. Chicago has earned at least one point in each of its first five games 10 times in franchise history and just twice within the past 40 years – the Blackhawks opened 2014-15 with a 4-0-1 record and 2012-13 with 21-0-3 mark, the latter standing as the longest season-opening point streak by a team in NHL history (24 GP).

* The Ducks (3-0-1) take on the Stars (2-1-0) at American Airlines Center. Anaheim has earned at least one point in each of its first five games to begin a season on one prior occasion, doing so in 2006-07 (12-0-4) en route to capturing the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

* The Hurricanes (3-0-1) visit the Wild (1-1-1) at Xcel Energy Center. Carolina can match its franchise record for longest season-opening point streak (5 GP), a mark set by the Hartford Whalers in 1995-96 (4-0-1).

QUICK CLICKS

· NHL helping volunteer from Malaysia build women's hockey in country

· 2019 Stadium Series tickets on sale Oct. 16

· Duncan Keith works overtime in reaching 1,000th game with Blackhawks

· Jacob Markstrom gifts stick to young fan dressed as Canucks goalie

· Detroit Red Wings to retire Red Kelly's No. 4

thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above