NHL Morning Skate for October 16 

The Anaheim Ducks’ home opener at Honda Center was an unforgettable night for fans, thanks to Frank Vatrano’s historic hat trick. This marked the first time a player scored a hat trick in a Ducks home opener, leading Anaheim to their eighth consecutive win in these games and improving their all-time record to 20-9-1.

Captain Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators made history himself by becoming the first player in the club’s history to score multiple goals in each of their first two home games. Tkachuk’s stellar performance helped lead his team to victory.

Auston Matthews, riding high on two consecutive hat trick performances, is set to make NHL history. He will face off against Connor Bedard for the first time in a nationally broadcasted game, as Bedard has scored points in each of his first three games of his career. The highly anticipated matchup will be televised on Sportsnet’s Monday Night Hockey, ESPN+, and TVA Sports.

MATTHEWS, BEDARD HIGHLIGHT FIVE-GAME MONDAY

A showdown between Auston Matthews and Connor Bedard takes center stage on Monday with the Maple Leafs hosting the Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena.

MATTHEWS COULD COLLECT HAT TRICK OF HAT TRICKS TONIGHT ON SPORTSNET

Auston Matthews has the chance to achieve a hat trick of hat tricks, becoming the first player in NHL history to accomplish this feat. The Maple Leafs will face off against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks in the first of 18 national telecasts scheduled for this week. The game will be broadcasted on Sportsnet’s Monday Night Hockey and TVA Sports.

Matthews recently expressed his excitement about being committed to the Maple Leafs for the next four years after signing a contract extension. He is the first player in franchise history since Rick Vaive in 1986-87 to score seven or more goals over a three-game span.

Bedard has already made waves in his young career by scoring points in his first four NHL games at the age of 18. He could become the eighth player in NHL history to achieve this milestone. Bedard’s impressive tour will cover five cities and approximately 3,700 miles before his highly anticipated home debut against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Golden Knights, on Saturday.

Both Matthews and Bedard have expressed mutual respect for each other’s shooting abilities ahead of their first head-to-head matchup.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Penguins at Red Wings (TNT, MAX, TVAS)

After a thrilling comeback win on Hockey Night in Canada, Erik Karlsson and the Penguins will head to Detroit to face Moritz Seider and the Red Wings. Seider is on track to become the third-fastest European defenseman to reach the 100-point milestone, following in the footsteps of John Klingberg and Karlsson himself.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Blackhawks at Avalanche (ESPN, SN1, SNP, SNW, TVAS)

The Blackhawks conclude their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Avalanche. Connor Bedard will face another fellow No. 1 pick as he continues to make a name for himself in the NHL. Bedard has already set records as the youngest player to record a point in his NHL debut since the 2013-14 season.

Saturday, Oct. 21: Maple Leafs at Lightning (CBC, SNO, SNW, NHLN)

The Maple Leafs and the Lightning, who have clashed in previous First Round playoff matchups, will meet for the first time in the 2023-24 season. Both teams promise an exciting game, with players like Mitchell Marner and Steven Stamkos having strong performances in their past matchups.

DUCKS, SENATORS EARN WIN ON SUNDAY’S SLATE

The Ducks and the Senators treated their home crowds to exciting wins in their respective Sunday games.

DUCKS FLY PAST HURRICANES IN HOME OPENER

The Anaheim Ducks kicked off their home season at Honda Center with a remarkable victory. Frank Vatrano’s hat trick and 19-year-old defenseman Pavel Mintyukov’s first NHL goal contributed to the Ducks’ win. Anaheim has now won eight consecutive home openers, matching the longest active run in the NHL alongside Toronto and Boston.

Vatrano’s hat trick was not only his fourth career hat trick but also the first in Ducks’ franchise history during a home opener.

Mintyukov, who made his NHL debut on Saturday, scored his first-ever NHL goal at the age of 19 years and 324 days. Only four other Ducks defensemen have accomplished this feat at a younger age.

TKACHUK POTS TWO GOALS FOR SECOND TIME IN AS MANY DAYS

Brady Tkachuk continued his impressive scoring with another two goals in his club’s recent game. This follows his multi-goal performance in the Senators’ home opener. Tkachuk has the opportunity to tie the franchise record for the longest multi-goal streak, currently held by Dany Heatley.

QUICK CLICKS

* #NHLStats: Live Updates from Sunday
* ’21st Duck’ Trent Sullivan honored by Anaheim for courage, perseverance
* Elias Lindholm, Flames ‘not quite there, yet’ on contract talks, GM says
* Bedard family enjoys ‘amazing’ night in Montreal