NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 17, 2025
Jets center Mark Scheifele, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tie franchise records. Get the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S NHL GAMES
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, tying former teammate Blake Wheeler for the Jets 2.0 franchise points record with 812. Kyle Connor collected two assists for the Jets, who extended their win streak to three games. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored his first of the season as his club has dropped three of its first four games (1-2-1).
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).
An overtime goal by Auston Matthews lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the New York Rangers 2-1. Matthews tied Mats Sundin for the most regular-season overtime goals (14) in Leafs history. William Nylander also scored for the Leafs, who’ve won three of their first five games. Juuso Parssinen replied for the Rangers, who dropped their third straight contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reports Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz believes there should be a rule change when a goalie loses his mask during play.
Under NHL rules, play can continue against a goalie who is not wearing a mask if a scoring chance is imminent. Stolarz’s mask was knocked off by a shot from Rangers forward Matt Rempe, but the Rangers still controlled the play, forcing the Leafs’ goalie to make a save without his mask before a stoppage in play.
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored the tying goal with 20 seconds remaining in the third period and the winning goal in the final seconds of overtime for a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Caufield tied Howie Morenz for the most regular-season overtime goals in franchise history with 10. Oliver Kapanen also scored for the Canadiens, who have won four of their last five to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division. Steven Stamkos and Nick Perbix scored for the Predators, who are 2-2-1 to open the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield’s tying goal came after teammate Lane Hutson blocked an attempt at an empty-net goal by Jonathan Marchessault. Hutson quickly fired a long pass to Caufield, and the rest is history.
The Vegas Golden Knights held off the Boston Bruins 6-5, extending their season-opening points streak to five games (3-0-2). William Karlsson scored twice, Mark Stone had three assists, and Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev picked up two points for the Golden Knights. Michael Eyssimont and Sean Kuraly each had two points for the Bruins, who’ve dropped two straight after winning their first three games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev is tied with Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto for the most goals this season with six. Stone leads all skaters with nine assists, and Eichel is the points leader with 11. Golden Knights forward Brett Howden and defenseman Noah Hanifin missed this game due to injuries.
Earlier in the day, the Golden Knights announced the signing of free-agent goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout offer.
A hat trick by Bo Horvat powered the New York Islanders to their first win of the season (1-3-0) by doubling up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Mathew Bazal had a goal and an assist, and David Rittich stopped 31 shots for the Islanders. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a horrible game for Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. His defensive mistakes led to breakaway goals by Barzal and Horvat.
Shootout goals by Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Pinto also scored in regulation to tie Pavel Dorofeyev with his league-leading sixth goal, while Dylan Cozens tied the game late in regulation. Chandler Stephenson tallied twice for the Kraken, who are 2-0-2 in their first four games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Senators announced team captain Brady Tkachuk underwent surgery on his injured hand. He is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Kraken forward Frederick Gaudreau left the game after the second period with an undisclosed injury.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1, handing the defending Stanley Cup champions their third straight loss after they opened the season with three straight wins. Timo Meier had a goal and an assist while Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils, who have won three straight. Evan Rodrigues scored for the Panthers.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and winger Conor Garland each had a goal and an assist as they overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Dallas Stars. Thatcher Demko made 28 saves for the Canucks, who are 2-2-0 to start the season. Jason Robertson had two assists for the Stars, who suffered their first loss after opening the season with three straight wins.
The Colorado Avalanche extended their season-opening points streak to five games (4-0-1) by dropping the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1, leaving them with one win in their first four games. Valeri Nichushkin tallied twice, and Cale Makar had a goal and an assist. Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 32 shots for the Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, Cam Atkinson signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets and officially announced his retirement. The 36-year-old forward spent 10 of his 13-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets. In 809 regular-season games with Columbus, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning from 2011-12 to 2024-25, Atkinson had 253 goals and 236 assists for 489 points. He also had 26 points in 35 playoff games.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored two goals and set up another in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes, who remain undefeated to start the season (4-0-0). Leo Carlsson replied for the Ducks (2-2-0).
The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Filip Hallander’s first NHL goal was the game-winner, and Erik Karlsson collected two assists for the 3-2-0 Penguins. Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings, who’ve dropped four of their last five contests (1-3-1).
Hutson’s effort to help tie up the game was gutsy and great but Suzuki’s work on the OT goal was sublime. After such a very long drought of skill across the team, it’s fantastic to watch this team believing they can find a way to comeback.
Oilers lost the game due to a very anemic offense. It will come around but right now way too many passes out of a high scoring area for an easy tap in that just isnt there. Just take that shot when you have it.
Lots will be said for Bouchard’s horrible game but I only charge him for the first goal. The short handed goal was high risk high reward with Horvat flying out of the zone early. Great play by the islanders and I dont think you want bouchard playing that much different. Pageau was fighting off the winger on a one on one battle to make that pass. 99 out of 100 the winger is going to chip it out of the zone. But what a pass it was.
2 breakaway goals and a great one timer on the pp from the slot area. Cannot fault Skinner who once again played very well.
To reiterate…oilers top six are playing a bit too cute. Nice effort from the bottom though I thought.
Great comeback by Pens and doing so as visitors to a team that did well at home.
We’re not getting McKenna; so let’s continue with the youth movement. A needed oust of Hayes (Kevin) and Accairi. Bring up Pickering and Avery Hayes
Caught hi-lights of Oilers game. Can’t really tell by hi-light pack, but they didn’t look like reigning Western Conference Champs
Glad to see another of the NG 5 getting a hockey contract. I still say Oilers should have pursued him. He may not have agreed to go there, but they should have at least tried [Bowman, early after the Judges ruling, said that Oilers were not going to try and sign him]).
Really really hoping Formenton gets back to NHL.
We (our family) feel so very sorry for the atrocity he was put through.
Literally his only negative thing at all that night (and it’s absolutely minuscule) that Formenton did that night, was only doing a quick look to help EM find her jewelry after she came back to their (McLeod’s/Formenton’s room).
Ending an NHL career over not diligently searching (NOTE: Formenton McLeod had already gone to bed when she returned for her jewelry that she had put aside; is a travesty.
If he makes it back to the NHL (and we hope he does) and people boo him for that; they should be ashamed of themselves.
I’m all about safety but it’s a slippery slope about the goalie masks. It’s not if but when goalies would find ways to “lose” their mask during scoring chances. Not sure what a good answer is.
Goalie mask are secured pretty well, Chrisms. It would take some doing to lose on on purpose. Given the consequences of taking a slap shot off the head, I think Stolarz has a valid point.
It’s easier to “accidentally” dislodge the goal post to gimmick a stop in play and that rarely happens …
If Boston scores 5 goals in a game with their lack of offense,that must be a win.Not a good sign for them.They seem to just play well enough to lose.