Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Nine-goal comeback, big wins, and overtime drama on NHL opening night
The NHL regular season opened with overtime thrillers, a furious Toronto comeback, and statement wins by Vegas and Detroit.
The NHL regular season dropped the puck Tuesday night with high drama and plenty of goals across the board. Toronto rallied back from a big deficit at home to edge Nashville in overtime, while Buffalo also needed extra time to top Minnesota. The New York Rangers, Detroit, Vegas, Chicago, Carolina, and Florida all picked up day-one wins.
At Scotiabank Arena, the Maple Leafs erased a 4-0 Nashville lead and took the opener 5-4 in overtime. Auston Matthews provided the OT winner at 4:46, and Gavin McKenna, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Jack Roslovic rounded out the comeback for the Leafs. Steven Stamkos and Nils Hoglander both had two goals for Nashville in a losing effort. Matthews finished with a four-point night, while McKenna earned the game's first star.
In Montreal, Carolina stormed past the Canadiens 6-4 as Taylor Hall notched a pair and Sebastian Aho finished with three points. Montreal's Zachary Bolduc scored twice in response, but the Hurricanes outgunned the Habs behind a solid effort from goaltender Brandon Bussi. Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Red Wings triumphed 5-3 over Ottawa. Alex DeBrincat netted two, Dylan Larkin and Viktor Arvidsson each had multipoint outings, and John Gibson made 22 saves.
Elsewhere, the Utah Mammoth earned their first win as a franchise, beating the Devils 5-3 in Newark. Mikhail Sergachev and Nick Schmaltz both posted three points. The Rangers turned a two-goal game into a comfortable win over the Islanders, riding Alexis Lafrenière’s hat trick-plus to a 5-2 finish. Chicago got strong goaltending from Spencer Knight to beat St. Louis 4-2 at United Center. Vegas handled Seattle with a dominating 6-2 performance on the road, led by Tomas Hertl’s four-point night. The Sabres capped the night with a 3-2 overtime win against Minnesota thanks to Owen Power's winner.
In Los Angeles, the Panthers secured a road win over the Kings on late goals from Seth Jones and Matthew Tkachuk, making Jacob Markstrom's 19 saves stand up in a 2-1 final. No PWHL games were scheduled.
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Predators vs. Maple Leafs | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Auston Matthews scored the overtime winner at 4:46.
- Nashville led 4-0 before Toronto rallied.
- Leafs scorers: John Tavares, William Nylander (PP), Gavin McKenna, Jack Roslovic, Auston Matthews (OT).
- Predators scorers: Steven Stamkos (2), Nils Hoglander (2).
- Juuse Saros: 32 saves for NSH; Anthony Stolarz: 21 saves for TOR.
- Three stars: 1. Gavin McKenna (TOR), 2. Auston Matthews (TOR), 3. William Nylander (TOR).
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Hurricanes vs. Canadiens | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Taylor Hall scored twice for Carolina.
- Montreal’s Zachary Bolduc also had two goals.
- Canes scorers: Hall (2), Robinson, Aho (PP), Jankowski, Svechnikov.
- Habs scorers: Bolduc (2), Suzuki, Slafkovský.
- Brandon Bussi stopped 16 for CAR; Jakub Dobes stopped 27 for MTL.
- Three stars: 1. Taylor Hall (CAR), 2. Zachary Bolduc (MTL), 3. Sebastian Aho (CAR).
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Senators vs. Red Wings | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Alex DeBrincat led Detroit with two goals and one assist.
- Other Red Wings scorers: Larkin, Arvidsson (PP), Faulk.
- Senators scorers: Stützle, Batherson (PP), Eklund.
- John Gibson made 22 saves for the win; Samuel Ersson stopped 31 for OTT.
- Three stars: 1. Dylan Larkin (DET), 2. Alex DeBrincat (DET), 3. Viktor Arvidsson (DET).
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Mammoth vs. Devils | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Utah Mammoth's debut win, led by Mikhail Sergachev's three assists.
- Mammoth scorers: Keller (PP), Weegar, Schmaltz (PP), Crouse, Trocheck.
- Devils scorers: Evangelista (2, one PP), Boqvist.
- Karel Vejmelka: 30 saves for UTA; Jake Allen: 26 saves for NJD.
- Three stars: 1. Mikhail Sergachev (UTA), 2. Nick Schmaltz (UTA), 3. Luke Evangelista (NJD).
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Islanders vs. Rangers | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Alexis Lafrenière had a hat trick and one assist for the Rangers.
- Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals.
- Islanders scorers: Horvat (PP), Ritchie.
- Igor Shesterkin stopped 17 for NYR; Semyon Varlamov had 19 saves for NYI.
- Three stars: 1. Oliver Bjorkstrand (NYR), 2. Alexis Lafrenière (NYR), 3. Mika Zibanejad (NYR).
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Blues vs. Blackhawks | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Chicago scored three in the third, including a shorthanded goal by Cole Smith.
- Sam Rinzel (PP), Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar also scored for the Blackhawks.
- Blues scorers: McTavish, McMichael (PP).
- Spencer Knight made 26 saves for Chicago; Joel Hofer had 17 for STL.
- Three stars: 1. Spencer Knight (CHI), 2. Anton Frondell (CHI), 3. Sam Rinzel (CHI).
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Golden Knights vs. Kraken | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Tomas Hertl and Jack Eichel each had four-point nights for Vegas.
- Victor Olofsson scored twice for the Golden Knights.
- Kraken scorers: Shane Wright, Jared McCann (PP).
- Carter Hart made 25 saves for Vegas.
- Three stars: 1. Tomas Hertl (VGK), 2. Jack Eichel (VGK), 3. Victor Olofsson (VGK).
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Wild vs. Sabres | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Owen Power scored the overtime winner for Buffalo.
- Wild scorers: Yurov (PP), Shabanov.
- Sabres scorers: Ostlund, Thompson, Power (OT).
- Colten Ellis made 18 saves for BUF; Jesper Wallstedt stopped 25 for MIN.
- Three stars: 1. Owen Power (BUF), 2. Tage Thompson (BUF), 3. Noah Ostlund (BUF).
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Panthers vs. Kings | NHL Highlights | Oct 6, 2026
- Florida picked up the win with goals from Seth Jones and Matthew Tkachuk.
- Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings.
- Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for FLA; Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 for LAK.
- Three stars: 1. Matthew Tkachuk (FLA), 2. Alex Laferriere (LAK), 3. Seth Jones (FLA).
Sources: NHL scores