Recap of NHL from 31 October 2025

Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and Drew Helleson all factored on the same shorthanded goal for a second straight game as the Ducks defeated the Red Wings in John Gibson’s return to Honda Center.

* Brent Burns buried his first goal with the Avalanche and moved into the top five on the NHL’s all-time list for most game winners among defensemen.

* Saturday’s 13-game schedule includes four Hockey Night in Canada contests capped by the latest meeting between No. 1 picks Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid.

TRENDS FROM #NHLSTATS OCTOBER RECAP CONTINUE ON HALLOWEEN

A number of trends highlighted in the October Recap #NHLStats Pack were on full display on the last day of October, including tightly-contested games as well as a mix of youth and veterans finding the score sheet. Friday’s edition of Live Updates also featured more notes from the three-game slate.

* Ilya Sorokin turned aside 22 shots including both by Alex Ovechkin to backstop the Islanders past the Capitals in another close game (1-goal margin or 2+ with at least one empty-net goal). Sorokin has not allowed a goal by Ovechkin in six of his seven career appearances against the Capitals captain.

* Leo Carlsson (1-3—4) matched a single-game career high with four points (also 1-3—4 on March 28) and factored on a shorthanded goal with Troy Terry and Drew Helleson for a second straight contest (also Oct. 28). They became the first trio of teammates in franchise history to all factor on the same shorthanded goal in consecutive games and the first to do so League-wide since Paul Byron, Torrey Mitchell and Jeff Petry with the Canadiens (2 GP from Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2015).

* Brent Burns (1-0—1) and Cale Makar (1-1—2) helped the Avalanche continue their strong start as Colorado moved into first place in the Western Conference. Makar (4-13—17 in 12 GP), who is currently leading the NHL in scoring among defensemen after holding that distinction for the final 70 days of 2024-25, extended his season-opening road point streak to seven contests, which marks the second longest by a defenseman in franchise history behind Jeff Brown (8 GP in 1986-87 w/ QUE).

QUICK CLICKS

* Penguins, Wild honor Make-A-Wish child
* John Gibson receives warm welcome back to Anaheim

* NHL players break out costumes for Hockey Halloween
* Jacob Markstrom signs 2-year, $12 million contract with Devils
* Countdown to Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 now at 97 days

CONNOR VS. CONNOR HIGHLIGHTS HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA QUARTET

A 13-game Saturday features a quartet of contests on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada, which will be capped by the fifth all-time meeting between Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid. Bedard has 2-3—5 in games against McDavid (0-4—4), though Edmonton has claimed three of four victories (EDM: 3-1-0; CHI: 1-2-1).

* Bedard (6-8—14) leads a Blackhawks team in scoring that rank among the top three in the NHL for goals (2nd; 13), assists (1st; 20) and points (1st; 33) by players age 21 or younger. The forward is coming off consecutive multi-point games, which included his first career hat trick on Oct. 28, and can join Patrick Kane (3 GP in 2007-08), Jeremy Roenick (2x: both 3 GP in 1989-90) and Denis Savard (3 GP in 1980-81) as the youngest players in Blackhawks history with three straight multi-point performances.

* McDavid (364-732—1,096) enters the matchup four points back of the 1,100-point milestone – he ranks second among active players in four-point outings (41 GP) behind only Sidney Crosby (43 GP). Meanwhile, his teammate, Leon Draisaitl, will look to continue his success against Chicago – a club he has recorded a point against in his past 18 meetings dating to Oct. 28, 2018.