. . . SABRES CONTINUE HOME DOMINANCE OF MAPLE LEAFS
The Sabres, meanwhile, improved to 16-1-1 in their last 18 home games against the Maple Leafs dating to Feb. 4, 2009, including six straight wins (TOR: 2-11-5).

DID YOU SEE THAT?
* Oilers forward Connor McDavid, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, scored a highlight-reel goal to propel the team to its victory. McDavid, who registered his first career game-winning goal, has 4-2—6 through his first seven appearances, including 3-2—5 in his past three outings.

* Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward stopped all 26 shots he faced, including an acrobatic stick save on Matt Duchene, to earn his 23rd career shutout. Via Elias, he became the first CAR/HFD goaltender to record a shutout against COL/QUE since Feb. 22, 1992 (Peter Sidorkiewicz in 4-0 W vs. QUE).

GIROUX EQUALS FRANCHISE MARK IN FLYERS’ WIN
Flyers captain Claude Giroux (2-0—2) posted his 16th career multi-goal game, including his sixth career overtime goal, to help the club overcome a two-goal, third-period deficit. Per Elias, his six overtime goals equal a Flyers franchise record, also held by Simon Gagne.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Sabres forward Evander Kane (6 GP), Oilers forward Mark Letestu (7 GP) and Maple Leafs forward Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (6 GP) all scored their first goals with their new clubs.

LOOSE PUCKS
Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, who earlier in the day welcomed a baby boy, posted 1-1—2 in his first game as a father . . . Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth (10 SV) stretched his shutout streak to 145:33 before allowing a first-period goal to Bruins forward Brett Connolly . . . Bruins forward David Krejci (0-2—2) extended his season-opening point streak to six games (4-7—11). Per Elias, he became the first Bruins player to record at least one point in each of the team’s first six games of a season since 2010-11, whenNathan Horton posted an equal streak (5-4—9) . . . Flyers defenseman Mark Streit (0-3—3) equaled a career high for assists/points in one game . . . ICYMI: Five-year-old cancer survivor Max Mitchell participated in a ceremonial puck drop as part of the Bruins’Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Arizona @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., FS-A, MSG
Dallas @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., SN360, FS-SW, ROOT
New Jersey @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., MSG+, TSN5, RDS
Anaheim @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., PRIME, FS-SD, FS-TN
Columbus @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., FS-O, FS-N, FS-WI
Florida @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., FS-F, CSN-CH
Washington @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., SN360, CSN-DC
Los Angeles @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., FS-W, CSN-CA
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

TORTORELLA MAKES DEBUT BEHIND BLUE JACKETS’ BENCH
John Tortorella makes his debut behind the Blue Jackets’ bench when Columbus visits Minnesota at Xcel Energy Center. Tortorella, who was introduced as the Blue Jackets’ head coach on Wednesday, has compiled a 446-375-115 record in 936 games as an NHL head coach with the Lightning, Rangers and Canucks. His teams have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times, including a 2004 Stanley Cup championship with the Lightning and an appearance in the 2012 Eastern Conference Final with the Rangers. The Boston native ranks first among U.S.-born NHL head coaches in all-time wins and recently was named the head coach of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

“It’s really exciting to be part of, because you’re going to be teaching and developing kids, teaching them how to be pros,” Tortorella said. “Along with doing that, you’re looking to win. It’s a team that’s ‘there.’ I’m just honored to be part of it.”

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER AWARENESS NIGHTS
Both the Rangers and Penguins host their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights on Thursday. Click on the respective links for more information.