CANUCKS RALLY PAST BLACKHAWKS, MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE IN PACIFIC DIVISION

Jake Virtanen (2-0—2) tied the game twice and Brendan Gaunce (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 10:37 remaining in regulation as the Canucks rallied past the Blackhawks and improved to 8-6-0 (16 points) this season. Vancouver moved to 5-0-0 in its last five games against Chicago dating to March 21, 2017 (CHI: 0-4-1).

* The Canucks leapfrogged the Sharks (6-3-3, 15 points) and Flames (7-5-1, 15 points) to move into first place in the Pacific Division standings. Vancouver enters the month of November with sole possession of the most points in its division for the sixth time in franchise history (also 1979-80, 1991-92, 1999-00, 2003-04 and 2005-06).

TOEWS CLIMBS FRANCHISE’S ALL-TIME GOALS LIST

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews scored the 299th goal of his NHL career (all w/ CHI) to pass Dennis Hull (298) for sole possession of sixth place on the franchise’s all-time list.

* Toews moved within one marker of becoming the second member of the 2006 NHL Draft class to reach the 300-goal milestone, in which he would join Penguins forward Phil Kessel (337). Only 13 players have scored more goals since Toews made his NHL debut on Oct. 10, 2007.

Did You Know? Toews and teammate Patrick Kane (323; 5th) are two of three active players on Original Six clubs who rank among the top 10 on their respective franchise’s all-time goals lists. The only other player is Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (296; 6th).

MONTH IN REVIEW: OCTOBER

* A total of 1,102 goals have been scored through the first 178 games of 2018-19, with clubs playing to 95% capacity across the League.

* The NHL is averaging 6.2 goals per game, tied with 2017-18 for the highest-scoring season through 178 games since 2005-06 (6.4 G/GP). Last season (5.9 G/GP; 7,552 G in 1,271 GP) was the highest-scoring campaign since 2005-06 (6.2 G/GP; 7,588 G in 1,230 GP).

* 82 players have reached double-digits in points, including 18 players with 15 or more points. Only two of the previous 23 seasons saw at least 80 players in double-digits in points this early in the campaign (2009-10: 80 and 2005-06: 85).

* 71.4% of games to require extra time have ended during the five-minute overtime period (30 of 42), the highest such percentage in the shootout era (since 2005-06).

* There have been 80 comeback wins, highlighted by a stretch of nine consecutive days from Oct. 20-28 that saw at least one team overcome a multi-goal deficit to win – a feat achieved 13 times during that span and 22 times overall this season.

2018-19 Single-Game Highs

Players

Most Points: 5 (2x), most recently by Lightning forward Brayden Point (Oct. 30 vs. NJD)

Most Assists: 4 (7x), most recently by Lightning forward Brayden Point (Oct. 30 vs. NJD)

Most Goals: 3 (12x), most recently by Predators forward Filip Forsberg (Oct. 27 vs. EDM)

Most Shots: 10, by Wild forward Jason Zucker (Oct. 11 vs. CHI)

Most Time on Ice: 32:00, by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (Oct. 13 at MTL)

Most Saves and Shots Faced: 52 on 57, by Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk (Oct. 13 vs. CAR)

Teams

Most Goals: 9, by the Penguins (Oct. 25 at CGY)

Most Shots: 57, by the Hurricanes (Oct. 13 at MIN)

Most Shots in a Period: 33, by the Lightning (Oct. 21 at CHI)

DID YOU KNOW?

* Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (11-7—18; t-1st in goals) and Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (6-13—19; t-2nd in points) concluded the first month of the season among the League’s top goal-scorers and point-getters, respectively. The pair rank among the top 10 for most career points in October by active NHL players.

* Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has collected 25-17—42 in 32 career games in October, including his historic four-goal NHL debut in 2016 and multiple points in each of his first seven outings in 2018. His career points per game average of 1.31 in October is the highest such total among active NHL players (min. 30 GP).

20TH ANNUAL HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER INITIATIVE BEGINS TODAY

Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint initiative between the NHL and NHLPA, begins today. The 20th annual campaign, which has been uniting the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families since 1998, will feature special events, observances, and stories from people around the hockey community.

* All 31 NHL Clubs will host a Hockey Fights Cancer awareness night in-arena, featuring lavender jerseys, dasherboards, decals on player helmets, and “I Fight For” cards. New this season, youth hockey teams across North America can host their own Hockey Fights Cancer awareness nights in their community rinks via the HFC Assist program. Hockey communities that sign up will receive a package including official helmet decals, lavender tape, “I Fight For” downloadable cards, and tips on how to engage their community to raise funds and awareness. Communities can register atHockeyFightsCancer.com

QUICK CLICKS

· Patrik Laine, Aleksander Barkov cheer up kids on visit to Helsinki hospital (via Tim Campbell)

· Martin Brodeur growing into role as Devils executive (via Tom Gulitti)

· Drew Doughty gets Halloween scare watching Connor McDavid score for Oilers

· Blackhawks fan sits between Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane in spectacular Halloween costume

· Alex Ovechkin picking up where he left off last season for Capitals (via Tom Gulitti)

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION

PANTHERS, JETS SET FOR 2018 NHL GLOBAL SERIES

Led by Tampere, Finland natives Aleksander Barkov and Patrik Laine, the Panthers and Jets are set to face off in the 2018 NHL Global Series at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland on Thursday, Nov. 1 and Friday, Nov. 2. The contests will be the 30th and 31st regular-season games to be played outside North America, and will bring the total to 25 such games in Europe and seven in Finland.

* Barkov, selected second overall in 2013, was the first Finnish-born skater in League history to be selected either No. 1 or No. 2 in the NHL Draft. Laine later became the second Finnish-born skater to be chosen that high, when the Jets picked him second overall in 2016. They now rank in the top five for goals among active Finnish-born players: Mikko Koivu (195), Valtteri Filppula (172), Barkov (102), Mikael Granlund (84) and Laine (83).

^ Goaltender Kari Lehtonen (Helsinki, Finland) was selected second overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002

* Barkov (2-6—8 in 9 GP), named the eighth Finnish-born captain in NHL history on Sept. 17, has collected 102-155—257 in 340 career games since entering the League in 2013-14. He ranks seventh and 10th in all-time franchise goals and points, respectively — lists led by Kuopio, Finland native Olli Jokinen (188-231—419 in 567 GP w/ FLA).

* Laine (3-2—5 in 12 GP), who will celebrate his 21st birthday on April 19, 2019, has scored 83 goals through the first 167 games of his NHL career. Only 13 players in NHL history have scored more goals before celebrating their 21st birthday.

* Overall, 216 Finnish-born players (185 skaters, 31 goaltenders) have appeared in a regular-season or playoff NHL game. That includes 40 (33 skaters, 7 goaltenders) this season. Florida’s Juho Lammikko (Noormarkku) joins Barkov and Laine as the only Finnish-born players on the Jetsand Panthers rosters.

Did You Know? Finnish-born players have accounted for 435 of the 4,941 regular-season goals scored in Panthers franchise history (not including shootout-deciding goals). The 8.8% of goals by Finnish-born players is the fourth-highest such total among all NHL franchises, behind the Wild (12.4%; 437 of 3,522), Ducks (12.1%; 625 of 5,151) and Golden Knights (10.2%; 30 of 294).

BY THE NUMBERS: NHL GAMES OVERSEAS

* The Jets will become the 24th different team to play a regular-season NHL game outside North America.

* The NHL has played regular-season games outside North America in six different countries and eight different cities, including this October’s contest in Gothenburg, Sweden, between the Oilers and Devils.

* Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena has played host to five prior regular-season NHL games, in 2009, 2010 and 2011. No other Finnish city has staged a regular-season NHL game.

* The Panthers have played in two of the prior five regular-season NHL games at Hartwall Arena. They opened the 2009-10 campaign in Finland with a pair of contests against the Chicago Blackhawks, a 4-3 shootout win on Oct. 2 and a 4-0 loss on Oct. 3. Panthers defenseman and Oulu, Finland, native Ville Koistinen secured Florida’s Oct. 2 win with the game-deciding goal in the shootout.

* The Panthers also played two preseason games in Finland prior to their 2009 regular-season contests in Helsinki. They lost, 3-2 in a shootout, to Tappara at Tempere’s Hakametsan Arena and defeated Jokerit, 4-2, at Hartwall Arena.

* Although the Jets have not played in a regular-season NHL game outside North America, the original incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets – now the Arizona Coyotes – visited Finland during the 1994-95 preseason. Helsinki native Teemu Selanne led Winnipeg to wins over Tappara (8-2 W) and Helsinki IFK (5-3 W), both at Helsinki Ice Hall.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.