This Week in the NHL: 32 teams, 16 games, one night
With 32 teams, games every night and countless narratives emerging, the NHL season can make one’s head spin, and it’s easy to miss out on the weekly storylines. Not to worry; every Monday from October to April, I’ll map out the major events, games, plotlines and milestones on tap for the next seven days.
So what’s happening the week of Oct. 27 – Nov. 2?
Oct. 28: All 32 NHL teams in action
The Frozen Frenzy returns with a staggered schedule of 16 games – yes, on a random Tuesday in October. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers open the action at 6:00 p.m. ET – as do the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, their tilt moved up 15 minutes to accommodate the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers playing Game 4 of the World Series that night. The final game goes down at 11:00 p.m. ET featuring the Los Angeles Kings visiting the San Jose Sharks. Naturally, #BecauseNHL, there’s exactly one game on the schedule the following evening.
Oct. 28: J.T. Miller returns to Vancouver
New York Rangers @ Vancouver Canucks, 10:00 p.m. ET
Miller has faced the Canucks since they traded him to the Blueshirts – but it was at Madison Square Garden last March. Tuesday marks the first time the outspoken Miller returns to Vancouver since the blockbuster deal made to break up his dressing room rift with Elias Pettersson. Miller has since been named Rangers captain.
Oct. 30: Tyler Seguin’s 1,000th game
Dallas Stars @ Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Taylor vs. Tyler Draft debate was 16 years ago, believe it or not. Seguin ended up going second in the 2010 NHL Draft behind Taylor Hall. Seguin has put together a career worthy of a second-overall pick, including more than 300 goals and 800 points, five seasons of 30 goals or more and a Stanley Cup ring. He’s on track to play game No. 1,000 on Thursday. Hall won’t get there until next season.
Alex Ovechkin’s 900th goal
Did ‘Ovi’ use up all his luck for the magical 2024-25 season in which he broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record? Through nine games of 2025-26, Ovechkin has found twine twice and remains one goal away from 900. He gets three chances to hit the milestone this week.
John Tavares’ 500th goal
The classy veteran continues to dutifully churn out production for the Leafs, dispelling the notion he’s over the hill. He buried 38 goals in his age-34 season and has started his age-35 campaign strongly, too. He begins the week just one goal short of 500 for his career, and the Leafs play three times. Tavares will be the 49th NHLer to join the club and the fifth active 500-goal man.