Cole Caufield and Alexandre Texier tallied shootout goals for the Canadiens, who earned a win after the League announced that Montreal will play in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic next October.
* Nathan MacKinnon tallied two timely goals for the League-leading Avalanche and moved into a tie with Joe Sakic for the most in team history (since 1995-96).
* Forty-year-old Alex Ovechkin (14 G in 29 GP) and 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini (103 points in 99 GP) have their sights set on monumental moments when they take to the ice for benchmark outings as part of an eight-game Sunday.
Canadiens clip Maple Leafs, CLIMB WITHIN ONE POINT OF DIVISION leaders
Cole Caufield (1-0—1) extended his point streak to 10 games and Alexandre Texier tucked a one-handed shootout goal past Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby as the Canadiens (15-9-3, 33 points) climbed closer to the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning (16-10-2, 34 points).
* Caufield, who collected the second double-digit point streak of his career (also 11 GP from Jan. 11 – Feb. 10, 2024), hopes to crack Team USA’s roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 after attending the Americans’ orientation camp in August. Texier is the only current NHL player named to Team France’s preliminary roster.
* The League announced that the Canadiens and Jets will face off outdoors in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Oct. 25, 2026. Click here for details.
MacKINNON AND NECAS HELP AVALANCHE EARN 20TH WIN, WITHSTAND RANGERS RALLY
Nathan MacKinnon (2-0—2) scored a go-ahead goal with 4:34 remaining in the contest before Artemi Panarin netted a tying tally within the final minute of regulation to force overtime, but MacKinnon and Martin Necas (0-3—3) combined on the overtime goal to help the Avalanche (20-2-6, 46 points) become the NHL’s first 20-win team in 2025-26.
* MacKinnon, who has collected at least two points in five of his past six outings and boosted his NHL-leading goal (24) and point totals (48), has made a habit of scoring go-ahead goals in the third period and overtime winners for the Avalanche since debuting in 2013-14. MacKinnon’s eight career go-ahead goals within the final five minutes of regulation for Colorado are the most in team history, ahead of Joe Sakic (5). Sunday’s performance also helped this season’s Art Ross Trophy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy leader move into a tie with the franchise icon for the most goals in team history (391).
* The Avalanche tied the second-fewest games in franchise history to hit the 20-win mark in a single season, alongside 2000-01 and behind only 2013-14 (27 GP). Overall, Colorado is the NHL’s first team to 20 wins in a season for the second time since 1995-96 (also 2000-01) and became the eighth team to do so multiple times during that span; Detroit (4x), Dallas (3x) and Chicago (3x) are the only clubs to do so more.
OILERS STARS HELP SECURE SIX-GOAL VICTORY
With the help of Connor McDavid (0-2—2), Leon Draisaitl (1-1—2) and Evan Bouchard (1-1—2), the Oilers found the back of the net four times in the first period en route to a six-goal victory against the Jets at Rogers Place. Saturday marked the fifth time this season that Edmonton scored six or more goals in a game, which trails only Colorado for the most (6).
* Overall, the Oilers have scored 15 goals dating back to their 9-4 win against the Kraken on Thursday – their most over a two-game span in 37 years (18 from Dec. 4-7, 1988). The last team across the League to record more was the Coyotes, who had 17 goals from March 5-8, 2022.
Bussi, Sorokin stymie opponents as Hurricanes, Islanders EARN WINS
Brandon Bussi (19 saves) and Ilya Sorokin (32 shots) secured wins for the Hurricanes (17-8-2, 36 points) and Islanders (16-10-3, 35 points), respectively, as both clubs climbed closer to the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals (17-9-3, 37 points). Sorokin was one of three goaltenders with a shutout Saturday (also Darcy Kuemper & Dustin Wolf).
* Bussi improved to 8-1-0 through nine career appearances with a 2.21 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout. He became the eighth goaltender in NHL history with eight wins through his first nine appearances – that list includes his teammate Frederik Andersen, who achieved the feat exactly 12 years ago today.
* Sorokin recorded his 25th career shutout to tie Glenn Resch for the most in franchise history and Calum Ritchie scored one of the NHL’s two goals on a between-the-legs shot Saturday (also Matthew Wood). New York’s three-game winning streak is bookended by victories versus Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay.
Wins by OTHER Atlantic Division teams featured in #NHLStats: Live Updates
Saturday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 12-game slate, including victories by Florida, Boston and Detroit:
* Sam Bennett (1-3—4) buried the winner at 4:56 of overtime after the Panthers rallied from deficits of 1-0, 4-1 and 6-4. Bennett became the fourth player in franchise history with a goal during the final five seconds of overtime, following Sam Reinhart (4:59 on Jan. 11, 2024), Dave Lowry (4:56 on Oct. 30, 1993) and Jody Hull (4:55 on Nov. 22, 1996).
* Morgan Geekie (1-0—1) scored one of his team’s four goals to help Boston defeat New Jersey at TD Garden. It marked Geekie’s 22nd goal of 2025-26 – the third-highest total by a Bruins player through 30 games in a season over the past 50 years behind Cam Neely (34 in 1993-94) and David Pastrnak (25 in 2019-20).
* Patrick Kane scored the go-ahead goal with 2:29 remaining in regulation to record his 83rd career game winner and tie Zach Parise for third place on the NHL’s all-time list among U.S.-born players, which is topped by Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick (both w/ 92). Kane also reached 1,362 career points and needs 13 to pass Modano (1,374) for the most by a U.S.-born player in League history.
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QUICK CLICKS
* Jets to host Canadiens in 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic
* Goal of the Season? Nathan MacKinnon dazzles with OT winner
* Goal of the Season? Calum Ritchie‘s between-the-legs score comes off carom
* Zach Parise‘s work ethic, love for game leads to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
OVECHKIN AND CELEBRINI EYE CONTINUED SUCCESS THROUGH BENCHMARK OUTINGS
Forty-year-old Alex Ovechkin (14-15—29 in 29 GP) will appear in his 30th game of the season and 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini (39-64—103 in 99 GP) will skate in his 100th career contest when the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals (17-9-3, 37 points) and Sharks (13-13-3, 29 points) each take to the ice on an eight-game Sunday.
* Ovechkin has collected 12-10—22 in 18 games since Nov. 1 and eyes his first goal at Capital One Arena since Nov. 26. Should he find the back of the net against the Blue Jackets – a club he has notched 28-18—46 (52 GP) against – he will overtake Gordie Howe (348) for the most home games with a goal in NHL history and also tie Howe (15-27—42 in 1968-69) for the most goals through 30 contests in a season by a 40-year-old.
* Celebrini is already one of 10 teenagers in NHL history to reach 100 points through 100 career contests and one of the League’s two players age 20 or younger with at least 100 points since 2024-25 (also Connor Bedard: 41-65—106 in 110 GP). The Sharks forward needs one point to tie Ted Kennedy (54-50—104) for the seventh-most points by a teenager through 100 career outings.
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