Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier sets a hat-trick record, Devils goalie Connor Hellebuyck won’t start Tuesday’s game against the Jets, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier became the first player in league history to record three hat tricks within the first 10 days of a calendar month in a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gauthier also picked up an assist while extending his goal streak to six games.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images)

Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists while Jackson LaCombe collected three assists for the Ducks (10-7-1) as they picked up their fifth straight win. Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell replied for the Penguins as they dropped to 6-10-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier also tied the NHL benchmark for hat tricks in a single month (3) and is the seventh player in league history to notch three hat tricks within a five-game span. The last one to do it was Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93.

Penguins forward Ville Koivunen missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck extended his season-opening win streak to five games with a 23-save shutout to blank the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0. Devils captain Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist to reach 500 career regular-season points, and Timo Meier scored two goals. Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 of 28 shots. The Devils (13-5-0) have won five straight games while the Leafs (8-9-2) have dropped five of their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After this game, Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said Hellebuyck won’t start when he returns to Winnipeg on Tuesday to face the Jets for the first time since he was traded to New Jersey last month.

Hellebuyck said he’s disappointed because he wanted to play in that game. However, Mehta and head coach Sheldon Keefe claimed it was an “organization decision” based on a potential reduction in their expected win probability, with Keefe noting that Hellebuyck had played three games in six nights.

This is a BS move by the Devils. Hellebuyck was looking forward to facing the Jets. Mehta and Keefe knew this date was coming, and knew how much it meant to Hellebuyck. If they were concerned about his workload, they could’ve managed it better to ensure he’d be well-prepared for Winnipeg. They’re trying to justify this move by hiding behind analytics.

My theory is Mehta saw how the Ottawa Senators used the return of their former captain Brady Tkachuk as motivation to beat the Florida Panthers and the raucous reaction of Senators fans during that game, and decided he doesn’t want his team to face a similar reception in Winnipeg.

Whatever the reason, it’s not a good look for the Devils, and it doesn’t give Hellebuyck the closure he needs with his former club. It’s also made the situation worse by prompting baseless speculation that Hellebuyck is afraid to face the Jets and Mehta is protecting him.

Meanwhile, Devils forward Anthony Mantha will “miss some time” after suffering a throat injury during Saturday’s 5-4 win over the New York Islanders. Maple Leafs forward Jack Roslovic was a late scratch with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, while forward Colton Sissons also suffered a lower-body injury.

Speaking of the Jets, they blew a 3-0 lead before defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on a last-second goal by Mark Scheifele during a five-on-three power play. Scheifele and Cole Perfetti each finished with a goal and an assist, and rookie Brayden Yager scored his first NHL goal for the 7-8-3 Jets, who collected their third straight win. Pontus Holmberg tallied twice for the 11-4-2 Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point left this game with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Jon Cooper hopes it’s not too serious, but expects Point could miss “a bit of time.”

Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman kicked out 40 shots to beat the Florida Panthers 4-1. David Pastrnak set up two goals, and Morgan Geekie extended his goal streak to four games for the Bruins (13-4-1), who collected their fourth straight win and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 27 points. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the 9-7-2 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a chippy game with several players receiving misconduct penalties, including Panthers forwards Brady and Matthew Tkachuk.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl scored two goals in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Mitch Marner had a shorthanded goal and picked up an assist for the Golden Knights (12-5-2), who picked up their third straight win. Beck Malenstyn scored for the 8-6-3 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin left this game in the third period following a hit into the boards by Sabres center Tyson Kozak.

An overtime goal by Matt Coronato lifted the Calgary Flames to a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers. Devin Cooley stopped 32 shots for the 8-9-1 Flames, and Sean Couturier collected two assists for the 4-10-5 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Flames announced that defenseman Kevin Bahl is out for the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during warmups for Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

HEADLINES

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico interviewed Patrice Bergeron and Carey Price as they reflected on their NHL careers on the eve of their induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.

Bergeron talked about the culture he and former teammates Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, and David Krejci built with the Boston Bruins. Price spoke about his career with the Montreal Canadiens, praised their current roster and thanked Montreal fans who still make him feel at home.

THE ATHLETIC: On the eve of his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Keith Tkachuk felt it was time for Ottawa Senators fans to move on after his son Brady’s trade to Florida.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So what say you, Senators fans? Have you moved on? Let us know in the comments section.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar left practice on Sunday for precautionary reasons.

SPORTSNET: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson won’t face supplemental discipline for boarding Panthers winger Sandis Vilmanis on Saturday.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators activated goaltender Linus Ullmark from injured reserve.

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports the struggling Chicago Blackhawks will not replace head coach Jeff Blashill.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders defenseman Logan Stanley was fined $3,865.98 by the department of player safety for slashing New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier on Saturday.