The NHL game day on October 15, 2026, delivered one of the most action-packed slates of the early season: 11 games, three hat tricks, two overtime comebacks, and several historical milestones for league veterans. The main event of the evening was the continuation of Brady Tkachuk's phenomenal streak, as he recorded three goals for the second consecutive game, lifting the Florida Panthers to an overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres pulled off one of the season's brightest comebacks, and the Vegas Golden Knights routed Calgary 6:2.
Tkachuk Ties It With 13 Seconds Left, Wins It in Overtime for Florida
The matchup between Florida and Vancouver (3:2 OT) proved to be arguably the most dramatic game of the day. The Panthers fell behind 0:2 after two periods, but completely turned the tide in the third. Brady Tkachuk tied the score with just 13 seconds remaining in regulation before scoring the game-winner in overtime to make it 3:2. For the 25-year-old forward, this marks his second straight hat trick, cementing his status as one of the most prolific players at the start of the campaign. In a notable side note, his brother Matthew Tkachuk has assisted on each of Brady's first four goals with Florida, turning their duo into one of the most productive in the league. Meanwhile, Vancouver extended its losing streak to six games.
Buffalo Overcomes Two-Goal Deficit, Marchenko Notches Hat Trick in 300th Game
The second drama-filled contest saw the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Buffalo Sabres (4:5 OT). The visitors overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period, forced overtime, and secured the win thanks to Owen Power's decisive marker. Jack Quinn racked up four points with two goals and two assists. Toronto wasn't entirely empty-handed, however: Kirill Marchenko scored three goals in his 300th NHL appearance, marking a significant career milestone. Despite the hat trick, the Leafs fell short in extra time.
Vegas Routs Calgary, Stone Tallies Three Straight Goals
The highest-scoring game of the night featured the Vegas Golden Knights and the Calgary Flames (6:2). Mark Stone recorded a natural hat trick in the third period by scoring three consecutive goals. Jack Eichel added three points, while Ivan Barbashev chipped in with three assists. For the Golden Knights, this represents their sixth win in the last seven games, highlighting the team's early-season consistency. In another matchup, Utah snapped Edmonton's winning streak (4:2): Clayton Keller scored twice, including an empty-netter, while Logan Cooley contributed a goal and an assist. This marked the Oilers' first regulation loss of the season, though Connor McDavid extended his point streak to all seven games to open the year.
Historical Milestones: Keefe's 300th Win, Kane's 895th Assist, and Bedard's First Goal
The slate provided several notable career milestones. New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe secured his 300th career NHL victory as his team crushed the New York Rangers 7:1. Luke Hughes scored twice, five other players added goals, and goaltender Nico Daws stopped 18 shots. In the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets (4:3 OT), Patrick Kane delivered his 895th career assist, taking sole possession of first place on the all-time list for US-born players. Connor Bedard scored his first goal of the season following his return from a shoulder injury and assisted on Artem Levshunov's overtime winner.
Ottawa Wins in Shootout, Detroit Snaps Skid, Philadelphia Sets Unwanted Record
The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders in a shootout (2:1). Matias Maccelli and Ridley Greig traded goals in regulation, while Shane Pinto converted the decisive shootout attempt. Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark turned aside 20 shots to earn his sixth win in as many starts to begin the year. The Detroit Red Wings snapped a three-game skid by topping the Philadelphia Flyers (2:1) on Andrew Copp's game-winner with 4:38 remaining. For Philadelphia, this marked their ninth consecutive loss without a win — the longest such drought in franchise history. Minnesota edged St. Louis as Matt Boldy recorded a hat trick and an assist, while defenseman Quinn Hughes extended his point streak to eight games. San Jose defeated Nashville in a shootout, with Alex Nedeljkovic stopping 32 shots and Macklin Celebrini scoring the winner.
