Hot topic of the week
The number one hot topic in the NHL heading into the new week is when Connor Hellebuyck will possibly get his first start of the season. After being traded to the New Jersey Devils (details here), Hellebuyck missed all of training camp and the Winnipeg Jets' first 10 games of the season.
Hellebuyck is traveling with the team on their upcoming road trip, with the possibility of starting on October 27th against the Dallas Stars or the next against the Colorado Avalanche.
Now, the league conversation shifts to Detroit Red Wings' star center Dylan Larkin and when the team will deal him after he requested a trade as well. Unlike Hellebuyck, Larkin has been playing. He has one goal and four assists through nine games.
Matches to watch
Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Tuesday - 8:00 p.m. ET)
It's a battle of the Eastern Conference's top two teams. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes currently possess the most points in the standings with a 9-2-2 record, while the Bruins are right behind them at 9-2-1.
Carolina leads the league with 51 goals, while the Bruins sit right behind them in third place with 49. However, the Bruins have given up fewer goals (26) compared to the Canes (32).
Bruins captain David Pastrnak and Hurricanes' star Sebastian Aho both lead the way with seven goals each. Pastrnak sits one assist behind Aho's 11.
Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Wednesday - 7:30 p.m. ET)
The game between the Capitals (6-4-0) and Flyers (3-7-3) will mark the first of four remaining that Alexander Ovechkin will ever play against his team's long-standing rival.
Philly have given up the second-most goals (54) to Ovi out of all the teams in the league. But the greatest goal scorer of all time has just one goal in 10 games this season. He's coming off a 5-4 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres, where he posted a career-low 11:43 time on the ice.
Meanwhile, the Flyers head into the new week having only scored more than three goals once this season - in a 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames (Wednesday - 8:30 p.m. ET)
The Battle of Alberta will have its first showdown of the 2026-27 season. Calgary own the all-time record (136-112), even going 3-1 last season against Edmonton despite being one of the worst teams.
The Oilers are boasting the best line in the NHL with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard. Their 27 combined goals are more than all of the Flames' players combined.
Players on a hot streak
Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl/Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers)
The most dangerous line in the NHL right now deserves its own section. Connor McDavid in 11 games has an unreal eight goals and 25 assists; no other player in the NHL has more than 20.
Edmonton's three stars all individually lead the league in points. McDavid is first with 33. Draisaitl is second with 23 (12g, 11a). Bouchard is third with 21 (7g, 14a). Even in their recent 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Draisaitl scored both of the team's goals, with McDavid and Bouchard picking up the assists on both.
Draisaitl has at least one goal in the last six games, and two goals in each of the last three, totaling nine.
David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins)
After a slow start to the season with just two assists in the first four games, the Bruins' captain has 15 points in his last eight with seven goals and eight assists. Boston are 7-1 in those matchups. If Pastrnak puts up a goal in the Bruins' matchup against the Canes on Tuesday, it'll mark his first three-game stint with at least one goal this season and his first since November 8th-November 11th last season.
Brady Tkachuk (Florida Panthers)
The veteran forward has recorded at least one point in five of his past six games, totaling 11 with seven goals (back-to-back hat tricks) and four assists. His seven goals on the season lead the team, while he sits just behind his brother Matthew in points (15).
The Sabres' forward has 11 points in 11 games, with nine in his last six. He leads the team with six goals and is third in assists (5). He scored the first goal of the team's recent matchup against the Capitals, which ultimately resulted in an OT loss.
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Matthews has recorded at least one point in nine of 13 games this season, including six in his last four with three goals and three assists. His nine goals this season are tied for third-most in the NHL.
Players on a cold streak
The Stars' captain has only put up one goal and one assist through 10 games to start the season. The 37-year-old's average ice time is hitting career lows, and he hasn't put up a point during Dallas' four-game win streak heading into their Sunday matchup against the New York Islanders.
Chris Kreider (Montreal Canadiens)
The veteran forward, much like Benn, has gone completely cold. Sunday matchup against the Winnipeg Jets aside, Kreider hasn't recorded a single point in the Habs' past seven games, despite putting up 22 goals and 28 assists last season.
Alberts Smits (New York Rangers)
The recent fifth overall pick in the NHL Draft is having a very rough start to his NHL career. He doesn't have a single point through 13 games this season, with only 13 hits, seven blocks, five shots on goal, and eight penalty minutes (-3 +/-).
Sticking with rookies, the eighth overall pick back in June also doesn't have a single point this season through 10 games. He has 10 shots on goal (and six hits) but nothing yet to show for it.
Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights)
The veteran defenseman has only two goals and two assists through 12 games this season, with no points in the last three games, despite putting up 30 shots on goal, averaging out to a career-worst 0.31 points per game.
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