PIUS SUTER SCORES FIRST THREE GOALS OF NHL CAREER
Blackhawks forward Pius Suter (3-0—3) became the second player in franchise history – and first in nearly 90 years – to score each of his first three career NHL goals in the same game, joining Bill Kendall (Dec. 17, 1933).

* Playing in his sixth career game, Suter became the 10th player on any team to accomplish the feat over the last 30 years (since 1990-91). Suter also became the second Chicago player to score the first hat trick of his NHL career in his first six games or fewer, following Art Somers (Nov. 21, 1929).



MORE NHL NEWCOMERS CONTINUE HOT STARTS
The NHL’s top scoring rookies each added to their totals Sunday:

* Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, a fifth-round pick by Minnesota in 2015 (135th overall), notched an assist to become the first rookie in franchise history to average at least a point per game through his first six career outings (1-5—6 in 6 GP).

* Devils defenseman Ty Smith, selected 17th overall by New Jersey in 2018, had his first multi-point game in the NHL to become the sixth blueliner in League history to begin his career with a point streak of at least five games (1-5—6 in 5 GP).



MCDAVID, DRAISAITL LEAD OILERS’ LATE RALLY
Connor McDavid (0-3—3) and Leon Draisaitl (1-1—2) each assisted on Kailer Yamamoto’s tying goal at 16:55 of the third period before teaming up again to clinch the comeback victory with a Draisaitl goal at 19:59 – marking the latest go-ahead goal in regulation in franchise history (regular season or playoffs).

* McDavid had at least three points in a regular-season game for the 56th time since entering the NHL in 2015-16, the most among all players in that span (Patrick Kane ranks second with 44). The Oilers captain shares the NHL lead with 10 points this season (4-6—10 in 7 GP).

* Golden Knights forward William Karlsson (19:17) also scored a go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation Sunday. Karlsson and Draisaitl’s tallies are the only such goals in 2020-21 (there were 12 overall last season).

PAVELSKI, POWER PLAY PROPEL STARS YET AGAIN
Joe Pavelski (1-2—3) and Roope Hintz (1-2—3) each factored on all three Stars goals – all scored via the power play – as the reigning Western Conference champions swept their season-opening, back-to-back set against the Predators.

* After tallying 2-2—4 in the opener Friday, Pavelski (36 years, 197 days) became the oldest player in NHL history to record three or more points in each of his team’s first two games of a season (besting Rod Gilbert: 35 years, 99 days in 1976-77). He is also the first player in franchise history to record seven points through the team's first two games of the season.

* Pavelski, who sits one point shy of 800 in his career, has factored on six of the Stars’ eight power-play goals this season (8-for-12; 66.7%). The Stars matched the NHL’s highest total on record (since 1933-34) for power-play goals through two games of a season, equaling the 1995-96 Penguins and 1942-43 Red Wings.

* The Stars also have one shorthanded tally in 2020-21 for a total of nine special-team goals – the second most by one team through two games of a season behind the 1995-96 Penguins (10).



KOPITAR ADDS TO NHL-BEST TOTALS, FLEURY CLIMBS ALL-TIME SHUTOUTS LIST
A pair of Honda West Division veterans led the way Sunday as Kings captain Anze Kopitar (1-2—3) increased his NHL lead in assists (9) and moved into a share of the top spot with 10 points, while Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (16 saves) climbed the NHL’s all-time shutouts list.

* Kopitar, who posted his 61st career three-point game, accounts for each of the last three instances of a Kings player registering at least 10 points within the team’s first six games of a season (also 4-6—10 in both 2009-10 and 2011-12). He is also one of five different Kings players to tally nine or more assists by this stage of a season.



* Fleury recorded his 62nd career shutout to surpass Turk Broda (61) for sole possession of 17th place on the League’s all-time regular-season shutouts list. The only active netminder ahead of Fleury is Henrik Lundqvist, who ranks 16th with 64 career shutouts. Vegas won the last of four straight games against Arizona (VGK: 3-1-0; ARI: 1-3-0), ending the first set of four consecutive regular-season games between two opponents in NHL history.

BUSY WEEK AHEAD INCLUDES TRIO OF HEAVY GAME NIGHTS
While this week opens with a single game on Monday – the first meeting of the season between the Senators and Canucks – the week ahead will feature multiple action-packed days including three with at least 12 games scheduled – highlighted by a trio of Scotia North Division matchups Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. Some highlights include:

* Alex Pietrangelo is set to face his former team for the first time when the Golden Knights host the Blues at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday and Thursday. Pietrangelo skated with St. Louis in each of his first 12 NHL seasons (2008-09–2019-20) and captained the club to its first Stanley Cup in 2019.

* Patrick Marleau (1,729) will move into a tie with Ron Francis (1,731) for fourth place on the NHL’s all-time regular-season games played list should he appear in both of the Sharks’ head-to-head meetings with the Avalanche, slated for Tuesday and Thursday at Ball Arena.

* Lindy Ruff (1,498 GC) is set to become the seventh head coach in NHL history to reach 1,500 career regular-season games when the Devils host the Flyers on Thursday. Staying with head coaches, Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice (1,606 GC) sits one game back of Al Arbour (1,607 GC) for fourth place in NHL history, meaning Maurice would tie him Tuesday and surpass on Saturday.



QUICK CLICKS

* Former Maple Leafs captain George Armstrong has passed away at 90
* George Armstrong remembered as 'great captain' by stars Dave Keon, Wendel Clark
* Linus Ullmark earned his first win since the passing of his father last week
* Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek kisses post after Hall's penalty shot hits iron
* Pierre-Luc Dubois says being with Jets 'already feels like home' after one day

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.