The Lineup is a new weekly series by Sporting Newsto bring you everything you need to know about the upcoming week in the NHL.
The start of the NHL season always brings highlights, stories, milestonesand of course, games.
On opening night, the first goal of the season Marvin Harrison Jerseys went to the Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk and since then it's been a goal-fest in the league with 202 biscuits being buried. This week showcases 44 games including an Original Six meeting between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens and a potential preview of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final when the Boston Bruins hit the ice in Colorado against the Avalanche on Thursday.
Here's everything to get you primed for theweek of Oct. 7 in the NHL.
Game of the WeekThurs., Oct. 10: Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:00 p.m. ETIt may be early in the season, in fact, it's way too early in the season, but this head-to-head in Toronto might prove valuable down the road. The first of four meetings between the two powerhouses the only one until February pits last year's Presidents' Trophy winners(1-1-1) against thebig spenders in Toronto (2-0-1). Auston Matthews, the NHL's third star of the week for the first week of the season with five goals in three games, will face one of the league's top blue lines.
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Milestone watchPhil Ke sel is now just two games away from appearing in the1,000th gameof his NHL career. This major moment will likely happen on Saturday when the Coyotes travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche.
Steven Stamkos is fivegoals away Bobby Okereke Jerseys from400. It may not happen this weekbut he does have two goals already in three games. It would take a hat trick in one game this week something he has done before in his career against the Isaiah Rodgers Jerseys Maple Leafs.
Steven Stamkos, everybody. |
Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning)Oilers goalie Mike Smith needs twoshutouts for 40 in his career. Edmonton faces the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils this week the former two teams he has shutout once in his career.
If the Winnipeg Jets win all four games this week, Paul Maurice will join the 700-win club among coaches. Only six coaches have more wins all-time than Maurice.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is two goals shy of becoming the 23rd defensemen in NHL history to net 200 goals.Burns alsoneeds just one overtime goal to surpa s Patrick Marleaufor the most in franchise history;Marleau holds the record with nine OT winners.
Ryan Getzlaf will look to tie and beat former teammate Corey Perry's franchise record for most games played. He trails Perry by two but should he play in all three games this week, he will pa shim with 989.
Conner McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both tied with Jari Kurrifor the most E.J. Speed Jerseys overtime winners in Oilers' franchise history with seven.
Tenunbeaten teams remainThe Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers are the remaining unbeaten teams in the NHL.
That Monday Morning First Place Feeling
Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes)The good news? You're unbeaten. The bad news? You have between 79 and 81 games left in the regular season.
And while there are quite a few surprises in that list looking at you Anaheim the big question remains:who will be the last undefeated team to fall?
OverreactionsTime to panic for expected playoff contenders?TheLightning havedropped two of three, the Dallas Stars have blown two leads en route to an 0-3-0 start and theSan Jose Sharks have been outscored 12-3 for the worst goal differential among all 31 teams in this young season.
It is true that all games count the same; however, its le s than a Ben Banogu Jerseys week into the season. Plenty of time for teams toto get theirfeet under themand slow starts are no reason to throw in the towel just yet.There is a load of talent on these rosters and with some new (or mi sing) faces, it'lltake time for things to blend well before there's a boost inproductivity.
Another overreaction is that the top two overall picks are busts. Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko combined for zero points and aminus-4 rating in four combined games to start the season. Keep in mindit's a big jump from junior to NHL competition and, let's not forget, Darius Leonard T Shirts they're 18-years-old.
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Shining stars from week of Oct. 3Anthony Mantha burst onto the scene early with five goals, including a , and a second star of the week accolades.
Anthony Mantha's got WHEELS.
Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca)Who was the first star of the week? That honor was bestowed upon Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers, who leads the league in points with eight. The Rangers have also played only two games while seven teams have played thrice.
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