Brady Tkachuk posted a four-point performance in Ottawa’s eight-goal outburst Wednesday and became the sixth-fastest active American to 200 NHL goals. He reached the milestone 11 games faster than his brother, Matthew.
* Several Olympic-bound players made their impact felt Wednesday, including Team Finland’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who extended his home winning streak to seven games and helped the Sabres improve to 14-2-0 in their last 16 contests.
* Thursday’s 10-game slate will see Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 jersey lifted to the rafters by the Bruins, while Auston Matthews faces off against former teammate Mitch Marner for the first time when the Maple Leafs visit the Golden Knights during a doubleheader on ESPN.
SENATORS SCORE EIGHT LED BY TKACHUK IN MILESTONE NIGHT
Brady Tkachuk (1-3—4) scored his 200th NHL goal and recorded his second career four-point game to help Ottawa score eight goals in a contest for the first time since Oct. 29, 2024. It marked their highest output on the road since they scored eight in Florida on Dec. 14, 2021. The Senators featured seven players with a multi-point game for the first time since Oct. 14, 2024 (7 vs. LAK).
* Tkachuk (200-229—429 in 538 GP) became the fourth player in Senators history to score 200 goals, joining Daniel Alfredsson (426), Jason Spezza (251) and Alexei Yashin (218). He required the second-fewest games in franchise history to reach the milestone behind Yashin (471 GP).
* Tkachuk became the sixth-fastest active American player to 200 goals behind Auston Matthews (338 GP), Kyle Connor (429 GP), Jake Guentzel (463 GP), Alex DeBrincat (473 GP) and Jack Eichel (522 GP).
* Tkachuk recorded his ninth career three-assist game, which tied Tim Stützle for the fifth most in franchise history. The list is topped by Alfredsson (22), Spezza (18), Erik Karlsson (16) and Yashin (10).
OLYMPIC-BOUND PLAYERS LIFT DEVILS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS, SABRES TO VICTORY
Nico Hischier (Team Switzerland) potted a pair of goals to help the Devils earn an overtime win, Jack Eichel (Team USA) and Mark Stone (Team Canada) helped the Golden Knights skate to a fifth straight triumph, while Rasmus Dahlin (Team Sweden) and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Team Finland) led the Sabres to victory. Find more notes on every game from Wednesday’s slate in the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
* Hischier scored career goals No. 185 and 186 to surpass Kirk Muller for sixth place on the Devils/Rockies/Scouts all-time list. His second of the night stood as his seventh career overtime tally, which tied Zach Parise for fourth most in franchise history. The Devils captain, who will skate in his first Olympics next month, passed Kevin Fiala (6) for the second-most overtime goals by a Swiss skater, behind only Roman Josi (10).
* After the Kings tied the game in the final 90 seconds of regulation, Stone (1-1—2) and Eichel combined on the overtime winner just 25 seconds into the extra frame. Eichel (0-3—3) increased his 2025-26 totals to 16-35—51 (38 GP) and tied his own Golden Knights benchmark for fewest games to 50 points in a season (also 38 GP in 2024-25). Eichel also became the third American player in NHL history to hit the 50-point plateau in fewer than 40 games at least three times (2025-26, 2024-25 & 2019-20), joining Brett Hull (6x) and Pat LaFontaine (5x).
* Dahlin tallied two power-play goals and Luukkonen made 20 saves to propel Buffalo (25-16-4, 54 points) past idle Boston (26-19-2, 54 points) and Toronto (23-16-7, 53 points) into the Eastern Conference’s first Wild Card spot. Dahlin recorded his fifth career multi-goal game, which matched Jerry Korab and John Van Boxmeer for the second most by a defenseman in franchise history, behind Phil Housley (19). Dahlin also became the first Sabres defenseman with multiple power-play goals in a contest since Rasmus Ristolainen on Dec. 10, 2015.
QUICK CLICKS
* Former NHL forward David Booth finding game in Scotland, Australia
* Tage Thompson developing ‘more mature game’ with Sabres, lands U.S. role at Olympics
* Penguins host young fan Myer Gallant at practice through Make-A-Wish
* 2026 NHL Hockey Innovation Competition finalists announced
* Tim McGraw to headline 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium
STAR MATCHUPS ON ESPN, SPORTSNET HIGHLIGHT THURSDAY’S GAMES
Thursday’s ESPN doubleheader begins with the latest Battle of Pennsylvania as the Flyers and Penguins go head-to-head for key standings points and concludes with Mitch Marner facing his former team for the first time when the Golden Knights welcome Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs. A matchup north of the border pits a pair of No. 1 picks against each other on Sportsnet ONE when Matthew Schaefer and the Islanders visit Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
* Marner was selected by Toronto with the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, played nine seasons with the club and ranks among the top five for the franchise in assists (4th), overtime goals (t-5th), multi-assist games (1st) and multi-point games (4th). He began his career alongside Matthews, with the former teammates skating in 588 career games together and posting a 344-173-71 record in those contests. The duo factored on 268 goals together, which is the most in Maple Leafs history.
* McDavid and Schaefer will square off for the second time after each player recorded an assist in New York’s 4-2 win on Oct. 16. Both players have led their teams to occupying the second spot in their divisional standings, with the Oilers captain doing so in the midst of a career-best 20-game point streak. McDavid (30-52—82) is currently leading the pack in search of his sixth Art Ross Trophy, while Schaefer (13-17—30) eyes the Calder Trophy as he boasts the most goals and points among rookie defensemen.
BRUINS SET TO RETIRE CHARA’S NO. 33
The Bruins will also be in action during Thursday’s 10-game slate and will honor franchise legend Zdeno Chara in a pre-game ceremony that will see his No. 33 rise to the rafters.
* Chara played 14 seasons in Boston and is one of eight players to appear in at least 1,000 games with the franchise. He captained the club from Oct. 6, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2020 – he won the Norris Trophy (2008-09) and a Stanley Cup (2011) during that tenure. The defenseman will be the 13th Bruins player to have his number retired by the franchise and the first since Willie O’Ree (No. 22) on Jan. 18, 2022.
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