* The first full week of the season opens with a nine-game slate Monday, highlighted by Penguins captain Sidney Crosby looking to become the fifth player in NHL history to start a campaign with three consecutive three-point performances.
* Head coaches Jim Montgomery, Paul Maurice, Derek Lalonde and Peter DeBoer can all improve to 3-0-0 with their new clubs, while Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes also look to extend their season-opening winning streak.
* Kraken forward Matty Beniers (4-9-13 in 13 GP), who has found the score sheet in 12 of 13 games since making his NHL debut on April 12, can join rare company by continuing his point-per-game pace.
CROSBY CAN CONTINUE NOTEWORTHY START AS PITTSBURGH VISITS MONTREAL
Sidney Crosby (2-4-6 in 2 GP), who has recorded 1-2-3 in each of his first two games to climb the NHL’s all-time points and assists lists, can continue his remarkable start to the season as the undefeated Penguins (2-0-0, 4 points) clash with the Canadiens (1-2-0, 2 points) at Bell Centre. Crosby enters Monday tied for the League scoring in the lead with Rangers forward Artemi Panarin (1-5-6 in 3 GP), who can add to his totals when New York hosts Anaheim at Madison Square Garden.
* The most points through three games in a season by an NHL player age 35 or older is nine, achieved by Crosby’s former teammate Mario Lemieux when he famously returned to the Penguins’ lineup in December 2000 (3-6-9 in 3 GP). The most through a team’s The first three games in a season is eight, by Stars forward Joe Pavelski in 2020-21 (3-5-8 in 3 GP) and Rangers forward Rod Gilbert in 1976-77 (0-8-8 in 3 GP).
FIVE OTHER CLUBS LOOK TO IMPROVE TO 3-0-0 MONDAY
In addition to the Penguins, five other teams can extend their season-opening winning streak to three games (including four clubs with a new head coach behind the bench):
* Either the Bruins (2-0-0, 4 points) or Panthers (2-0-0, 4 points) will skate away with a 3-0-0 record as the Atlantic Division rivals open their four-game season series at TD Garden. Jim Montgomery can become the sixth head coach in franchise history to earn wins in each of his first three contests with Boston, following Bep Guidolin (5-0-0 in 1972-73), Bruce Cassidy (4-0-0 in 2016- 17), Tom Johnson (4-0-0 in 1970-71), Robbie Ftorek (3-0-0 in 2001-02) and Butch Goring (3-0-0 in 1985-86). Paul Maurice can become the first in franchise history to do so with the Panthers.
* The Red Wings (2-0-0, 4 points) will look to record a three-game season-opening winning streak for the first time since 2015-16 when they welcome the Kings (1-2-0, 2 points) to Little Caesars Arena. Derek Lalonde can become the fourth head coach in franchise history to record victories in each of his first three games with Detroit, following Jeff Blashill (3-0-0 in 2015-16), Mike Babcock (3-0-0 in 2005- 06) and Jimmy Skinner (3-0-0 in 1954-55). Blashill and Skinner are the only members of that cohort whose runs were from the start of their NHL head coaching career.
* The Stars (2-0-0, 4 points) will play host to the Jets (1-0-0, 2 points) at American Airlines Center for the first of three games between the Central Division rivals this season. Peter DeBoer, who succeeded new Winnipeg bench boss Rick Bowness in Dallas, can become the first head coach in Stars/North Stars history to record a three-game winning streak from the start of his tenure with the franchise.
* The Hurricanes (2-0-0, 4 points) continue their five-game road trip with a contest against the Kraken (1-1-1, 3 points). Seattle general manager Ron Francis, who served in the same capacity with Carolina for parts of four seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18, was responsible for acquiring each team’s leading scorer: Martin Necas (2-2-4 in 2 GP) of the Hurricanes as well Andrey Burakovsky (1-3-4 in 3 GP) and Matty Beniers (1-3-4 in 3 GP) of the Kraken. Francis chose Beniers (No. 2 in 2021), who played two seasons with the University of Michigan Wolverines before his League debut in April, with Seattle’s first-ever NHL Draft pick.
QUICK CLICKS
* Scott Laughton emerges as leader, example for Flyers
* Sonny Milano signs one-year, $750,000 contract with Capitals
* Nick Foligno returning to form, getting back in rhythm with the Bruins
* Anthony Mantha Enjoying birth of first child, fast start with Capitals
* Pre-game notes now available for Oct. 17th edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates
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