Sabres netminder Colten Ellis earned a win in his NHL debut and helped his club earn its third straight victory at home.
* The Devils and Canadiens both collected two points and became the first two teams to six wins in 2025-26 – New Jersey extended its run to 6-0-0, while Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes earned a rare feat with another season-opening winning streak.
* A 12-game Thursday will include the Blackhawks and Lightning, followed by the Kings and Stars going head-to-head on ESPN+ in a national broadcast across the U.S.
ELLIS WINS NHL DEBUT IN FRONT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS
The Sabres are 3-0-0 at home since Oct. 15 thanks to goaltender Colten Ellis, who made 27 saves to win his NHL debut, ending the Red Wings’ winning streak at five games in the process. Ellis, who hails from Whycocomagh, N.S., became the first Nova Scotian goaltender to play in the NHL in more than a decade and the ninth to win his League debut with the Sabres – and did so in front of family and friends.
* Ellis, a third-round pick by St. Louis in the 2019 NHL Draft who was claimed off waivers on Oct. 6, became the second goaltender this season to win his NHL debut, following Brandon Bussi (Oct. 14 w/ CAR). After his support club was caught on TNT cameras reacting to his breakaway stops, Ellis was interviewed post-game by Henrik Lundqvist and the NHL on TNT crew: “It’s a good thing I can’t see you guys, I think I’d be more nervous to talk to you.”
DILLON HELPS DEVILS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO SIX GAMES
Brenden Dillon scored his second goal in as many days, both of which ended as the game winner, to help the Devils win their sixth straight contest. New Jersey, tied with Montreal for the League lead in wins (6), established its second-longest winning streak in the past 13 years, behind a 13-0-0 run in 2022-23 (which matched a franchise record).
* Dillon became the fourth defensemen in franchise history with the game-winning goals in consecutive games, joining Dougie Hamilton (Nov. 21-23, 2024 & Jan. 22-24, 2023), Brian Rafalski (Dec. 5-8, 2001) and Barry Beck (Dec. 13-17, 1977). He is the first Devils player to do so in consecutive days since Ilya Kovalchuk (Jan. 6-7, 2012).
BOLDUC, DOBES HELP CANADIENS EARN WIN IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Wednesday’s Live Updates featured #NHLStats on every team that played, including the Canadiens who earned their sixth win of the season thanks to a goal from Zack Bolduc and a 36-save performance from Jakub Dobes. Montreal shares the League lead in both wins and points in 2025-26.
* Dobes, who started 2024-25 with a 5-0-0 record and maintains his rookie status in 2025-26, became the second goaltender in NHL history to post multiple 4-0-0 starts to a season as a rookie, joining Wayne Thomas (7-0-0 in 1972-73 & 4-0-0 in 1973-74, also with MTL).
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL announces landmark multiyear partnerships with Kalshi, Polymarket
* Maple Leafs change start times to accommodate World Series
* Blue Jays visit Maple Leafs after World Series berth
* Alex Ovechkin poses with funny floss holder giveaway
* Bruins dress up as superheroes, visit young patients at local hospitals
ESPN+ DOUBLEHEADER TAKES OVER A 12-GAME THURSDAY
Showdowns between the Blackhawks and Lightning as well as the Kings and Stars headline an ESPN+ two-pack on a 12-game Thursday around the NHL. Dallas, led in scoring by Mikko Rantanen this season, caps the doubleheader with an opportunity to earn its seventh straight home win against Los Angeles dating to Oct. 22, 2021.
* Twenty-year-old Connor Bedard (2-5—7 in 7 GP) and 21-year-old Frank Nazar (3-4—7 in 7 GP) have been key for Chicago to start the season and are the youngest pair of teammates to lead a club in scoring in 2025-26, ahead of Anaheim’s 20-year-old Leo Carlsson (3-4—7) and 22-year-old Mason McTavish (1-5—6). Bedard has three goals in four career games against the Lightning and can tie his most against any franchise (4 in 7 GP vs. DAL & 4 in 6 GP vs. WPG).
* Andrei Vasilevskiy could have the opportunity to oppose Bedard and Nazar when the puck drops at Benchmark International Arena. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner has won each of his past 13 games against the Blackhawks dating to Jan. 24, 2017 and can become the fourth goaltender in NHL history to win 14 or more consecutive outings versus one opponent; Antero Niittymaki (17 GP vs. ATL), John Ross Roach (15 GP vs. PIR/QUA) and Ken Dryden (14 GP vs. VAN) are the only ones to do so.
* Wyatt Johnston (93-90—183 in 252 GP), who needs one point to pass Steve Payne (95-88—183 in 226 GP) for the sixth-most points by a player age 22 or younger in Stars/North Stars history, looks to help his club extend its home winning streak against the Kings to seven games. Dallas owns two other active home win streaks of six or more games against a single opponent (12 GP vs. DET & 8 GP vs. PHI).
* Darcy Kuemper is coming off his first win of the season after the Kings skated to an overtime victory against the Blues on Tuesday. Kuemper owns a career record of 32-13-8 (2.07 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO) since joining Los Angeles in 2024-25 and has recorded the second-lowest goals-against average among all goaltenders during that span (min. 30 GP).
NOTABLE STREAKS ON THE LINE THURSDAY
Plenty of player and team streaks will be on the line Thursday when NHL Coast to Coast, the live whip-around studio show on Prime Video Canada, returns with Andi Petrillo and special guests Jody Shelley and Cory Schneider.
* Matthew Schaefer (2-5—7 in 6 GP) enters on a six-game point streak after posting his first career multi-point outing against the Sharks on Tuesday and helping the Islanders skate to a third straight win. New York’s No. 1 pick will look to become the first defenseman in NHL history to start his career on a seven-game point streak as well as the first 18-year-old blueliner to post a run of that length at any point in a season.
* Mark Scheifele enters play on a five-game goal streak and can match the longest run of his career (6 GP in 2020-21). Winnipeg also carries a five-game winning streak into its game against Seattle, the second-longest active run in the NHL (behind NJD: 6-0-0).
* Martin Necas (5-6—11 in 7 GP) carries a seven-game season-opening point streak into Thursday’s meeting against his former team, tied with Jack Eichel (VGK), Dylan Larkin (DET) and Jesper Bratt (NJD) for the NHL’s longest run in 2025-26. Necas can become the seventh Czech player to start a campaign with points in eight straight outings and first since David Krejci (9 GP in 2015-16). The Avalanche (5-0-2) will also look to start a season on an eight-game point streak for just the third time in franchise history, following 2019-20 (7-0-1) and 2000-01 (9-0-2).
* The Mammoth visit the Blues on the heels of a successful 4-0-0 homestand and look to establish the longest winning streak in franchise history. Captain Clayton Keller (32-67—99 in 88 GP) can also become the first Utah player to score 100 points with the club.
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