WORKING OVERTIME IN CALIFORNIA
After surrendering a two-goal lead, the Sharks benefited from Erik Karlsson’s first point with the club - an assist on Kevin Labanc’s overtime goal - to post its fourth consecutive regular-season win aginst the Kings. Karlsson played nearly half the game, pacing all skaters with 29:27 TOI.

* Joe Thornton (0-1—1) played his 1,495th career regular-season game to tie Phil Housley for 20th place on the NHL’s all-time games played list. Thornton’s assist was the 1,031st of his career, moving him within two of tying NHL legend Mario Lemieux (1,033) for 11th place in League history.

* WATCH: Major Douglas Rauschelbach of the United States Marine Corps surprised his family with a visit prior to puck drop. Click the photo to watch it unfold.

QUICK CLICKS
* Introducing the NHL European Game of the Week

* Global Series puts Sweden in hockey spotlight
* Blue Jackets military veteran of the game is also Boone Jenner's grandfather
* Hockey Night in Canada: 5 Storylines

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

RARE MATCHUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 NHL GLOBAL SERIES

Former teammates Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall, the reigning Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy winners, respectively, are set to take to the ice in Gothenburg, Sweden, when the Oilers and Devils face off at the 2018 NHL Global Series. McDavid (2016-17) and Hall (2017-18) also account for each of the past two Hart Memorial Trophies.

* This will mark just the third time in NHL history - and first time in 67 years - that the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner and reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner will meet in a season-opening game. The other instances came one year apart, in the same building, during the 1950s.On Oct. 11, 1950, Red Wings forward Ted Lindsay (1949-50 Art Ross) faced Rangers goaltender Chuck Rayner (1949-50 Hart) at the Detroit Olympia. On Oct. 11, 1951, Gordie Howe (1950-51 Art Ross) helped the Red Wings defeat Milt Schmidt (1950-51 Hart) and the Bruins.

* Today’s game also will mark just the second time in NHL history that each of the previous two Hart Trophy winners will play against each other in a season opener. The first such instance came in the aforementioned game on Oct. 11, 1950, when three straight Hart Trophy winnersskated: Detroit’s Sid Abel (1948-49 Hart) scored against Rayner (1949-50 Hart), while forward Buddy O’Connor (1947-48 Hart) added a goal for New York in a 3-2 defeat.

Global Series Quick Hits

* The NHL has participated in four prior games in Gothenburg, Sweden – all exhibitions – with the most recent such contest on Sept. 30, 2011. In that game, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers defeated his former team, Frölunda, and twin brother, Joel, 4-2.

* Did You Know? Pavel Bure scored the game-winning goal in the first ever regular-season NHL game contested outside North America, a 3-2 victory for the Canucks against the Ducks on Oct. 3, 1997 at Yoyogi Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA FEATURES YOUNG STARS, LEGENDARY BROADCASTER

The first Saturday of the season features a total of five games on Hockey Night in Canada, beginning with the Global Series showdown, with a Canadian club featured in each.

* After each scoring in their season opener, Jets forward Patrik Laine (1-1– 2) and Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (2-0– 2) get set for their second game of 2018-19. Both players have scored 30+ goals in each of their first two seasons; since the 1980s, only four players have started their NHL careers with at least three consecutive 30-goal campaigns: Alex Ovechkin (13), Sergei Fedorov (4), Pavel Bure (3) and Evgeni Malkin (3).

* Legendary broadcaster Bob Cole returns for a 50th and final season calling Hockey Night in Canada, making his 2018-19 debut with play-by-play for the 211th regular-season meeting between the Canadiens and Penguins.

* The day closes with Canucks forward Elias Pettersson aiming to become the sixth player in franchise history to score at least one goal in each of his first two career NHL games. Rick Lanz was the last to do so, in October 1980.

SUNSHINE STATE RIVALRY RENEWS AS PANTHERS BEGIN 25TH SEASON

The Lightning and Panthers will be the last two teams to begin their 2018-19 campaign when they face off at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, with Florida embarking on its 25th NHL season.

* Tampa Bay enters 2018-19 with the best point percentage in season-openers in League history, compiling a 16-7-2 record in 25 contests (.680). The Lightning have secured victories in each of their last four season openers and look to keep pace with the Canucks – who won their fifth straight season opener on Wednesday – for the longest active win streak in such games.