THREE HARD LAPS

* Capitals defenseman John Carlson (0-3—3) posted his second three-point outing in as many games as he continues to pile on the points in 2019-20. He is just one of six defensemen in NHL history to record three or more three-point outings through his team’s first nine games.

* Nathan MacKinnon scored his seventh career overtime goal as the Avalanche improved to 6-0-1 in 2019-20 after outlasting the Panthers in a back-and-forth affair.

* The Oilers and Ducks each continued their impressive play on home ice to improve to 4-0-0 at Rogers Place and Honda Center, respectively.

CARLSON COLLECTS THIRD THREE-POINT OUTING IN NINE GAMES
John Carlson (0-3—3) continued the theme of predominately finding his name on the score sheet as the Capitals won for the third time in four contests. With his second three-point outing in as many appearances, Carlson became the sixth defenseman in NHL history to post three or more three-point games through his team’s first nine contests.

* The 29-year-old defenseman collected his third point of the evening on the Capitals’ 30th goal of 2019-20. Carlson joined Tomas Kaberle (17 in 2009-10 w/ TOR) as just the second blueliner in NHL history to factor on 17 of his team’s first 30 goals of any season (excluding shootout-deciding goals).

* Carlson, with assists in each of his last six games, boosted his season totals to 3-14—17 and became the first defenseman in Capitals history to record at least 15 points in the month of October. His six-game assist streak matched the second-longest such run by a defenseman in franchise history, trailing only Mike Green (8 GP from Oct. 15 – Nov. 1, 2009) and Scott Stevens (8 GP from Feb. 19 – March 6, 1988).

* The longest run of consecutive team games with an assist by any Capitals player is nine contests, accomplished on three occasions (last: Nicklas Backstrom in 2009-10).

MacKINNON PLAYS OT HERO IN HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR
In a high-scoring affair that featured four goals in each of the first and second periods between the Avalanche and Panthers, Nathan MacKinnon (1-0—1) scored his seventh career overtime goal to help Colorado extend its season-opening point streak to seven games (6-0-1).

* The Avalanche matched the second longest season-opening point streak in franchise history (7-0-0 in 1985-86 and 5-0-2 in 1997-98). The longest such run to begin a season by the Avalanche/Nordiques is 11 games (9-0-2 in 2000-01).

* MacKinnon collected his 10th point of the season (4-6—10) on the overtime winner to join teammate Mikko Rantanen (4-6—10) as the second Avalanche player with 10 points in 2019-20. It marks the fourth time since the team relocated to Denver that two or more players hit the benchmark through seven games to begin the season. The others: 2018-19 (Rantanen and MacKinnon), 2003-04 (Alex Tanguay, Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg) and 1996-97 (Joe Sakic and Forsberg).

OILERS, DUCKS REMAIN UNDEFEATED ON HOME ICE
Edmonton’s James Neal scored his ninth goal of the season and Anaheim’s Adam Henrique found the back of the net for the third straight game to help the Oilers and Ducks extend their season-opening win streaks on home ice to four games.

* Edmonton won each of its first four home games to begin a season for the first time since 2006-07 (6-0-0), which tied the longest such run in franchise history. Mikko Koskinen, meanwhile, turned aside 25 saves to join Andy Moog (4-0-0 in 1983-84) as the second goaltender in Oilers franchise history to win each of his first four games of a campaign.

* Henrique scored his team-leading fifth goal of 2019-20 (5-1—6) to help the Ducks capture their fourth straight win at Honda Center to start the season. It marks the third time in franchise history the team has posted a season-opening home win streak of at least four games. The others: 8-0-0 (2013-14) and 4-0-0 (2014-15).

LETANG SCORES TWICE AS PENGUINS WIN 5TH STRAIGHT GAME
Kris Letang scored twice, including a highlight-reel goal in which he outwaited and avoided two defenders, to help the Penguins extend the League’s longest active win streak to five games.

* Jake Guentzel (0-1—1) extended his point streak to a career-high seven games (5-3—8) with an assist on Letang’s second goal. Guentzel, who finished third in team scoring and first in goals during the 2018-19 season (40-36—76 in 82 GP), has been held off the score sheet only once in 2019-20.

QUICK CLICKS

* "Speedy Skaters" on NHL Network Ice Time: Rasmus Dahlin, Matt Duchene + more
* Nico Hischier signs seven-year contract with Devils
* Hughes brothers excited for first head-to-head NHL game
* Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer drops baseball over puck at Capitals game
* Darren Helm fined for actions in Red Wings game against Flames

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

HUGHES BROTHERS TO FACE OFF IN NHL FOR FIRST TIME

The Hughes Brothers will go head-to-head in the NHL for the first time when QuinnHughes and the Canucks visit Jack Hughes and the Devils in a matinee matchup at Prudential Center.

* The brothers were first round picks in consecutive draft years: Quinn (No. 7 in 2018) and Jack (No. 1 in 2019). Only four other sets of brothers were selected in the first round in consecutive draft years: Luke Schenn (2008) and Brayden Schenn (2009), Marc Staal (2005) and Jordan Staal (2006), Stephen Patrick (1980) and James Patrick (1981) as well as Duane Sutter (1979) and Brent Sutter (1980).

* After recording his first career point on Thursday (0-1—1), a goal Saturday would make Jack (18 years, 158 days) the second-youngest player in Devils franchise history to score his first NHL goal (Craig Wolanin: 18 years, 135 days). Eight players in NHL history have scored their first career NHL goal in a game against their brother, with Marcus Foligno the last to do so on March 10, 2012 with the Sabres against Nick Foligno and the Senators.

BRUINS, MAPLE LEAFS TO CLASH FOR FIRST TIME SINCE GAME 7

The Bruins will visit the Maple Leafs in the first meeting between the clubs since Boston eliminated Toronto in the opening round for the second consecutive postseason – with both series requiring seven games.

* David Pastrnak has factored on each of the Bruins’ last seven markers dating to Oct. 14 (6-1—7). The most consecutive team goals factored on by a Bruins player is nine, achieved by Phil Esposito from March 6-12, 1974 (3-6—9) and Ray Bourque from Jan. 2-11, 1994 (1-8—9).

* Tuukka Rask (499 GP), who was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs 21st overall in 2005, enters Saturday one appearance shy of 500 games – all of which have come in a Bruins uniform. He will become the 28th goaltender in NHL history to appear in 500 games with one franchise – Martin Brodeur holds the most all-time appearances by a goaltender with a single franchise (1,259 GP w/ NJD) and Henrik Lundqvist has the highest such total among active netminders (859 GP w/ NYR).

HUTTON CHASES THIRD CONSECUTIVE SHUTOUT

Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton enters Saturday with back-to-back shutouts to his credit. He can become just the second Sabres goaltender to record a shutout in three straight appearances - Martin Biron is the only one to do so (3 SO from Jan. 18-24, 2003).

* Additionally, Hutton has raced out of the gates with a 5-0-0 record (1.40 GAA, .953 SV%, 2 SO) to help propel the Sabres (6-1-1, 13 points) to first place in the Eastern Conference. He can become the fourth different goaltender in franchise history to win each of his first six games of a season. He would join Ryan Miller (8-0-0 in 2006-07), Martin Biron (6-0-0 in 2006-07) and Roger Crozier (7-0-0 in 1974-75 and 6-0-0 in 1976-76).

Information above was supplied by the NHL PR department.