Alex Ovechkin scored his unprecedented 900th goal on Wednesday, alongside 128 game-winners and 324 power-play goals, while Sidney Crosby continues his unreal pace toward a 21st straight point-per-game season and Evgeni Malkin stands as the highest-scoring Russian ever. All reminders of how lucky we are to witness this era’s icons. Jordan Binnington briefly tried to stash Ovie’s milestone puck, a light moment amid bigger concerns for a Blues team that simply doesn’t look right. A bizarre OT winner in Minnesota saw a dislodged net factor into a good-goal ruling that, while correct by rule, raised questions about odd one-off scenarios. Steven Stamkos forced OT with a buzzer-beater but has struggled overall, something Ray attributes partly to Nashville's roster construction. In Calgary, Nazem Kadri’s 1,000th game came with a goal and a rare Flames win, though Ray remains unconvinced about their playoff hopes. Macklin Celebrini’s hot start continues to shine in San Jose, as the league’s 18-to-22-year-old wave surges and potentially affects Olympic rosters. And in Seattle, Ryan Winterton’s first NHL goal offered a touching moment as he plays while his brother battles cancer, with strong support from the Kraken organization.

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The Penguins dominated Toronto for 40 minutes before collapsing in the third, as the Leafs flipped the script despite continuing to look out of sorts. Even Craig Berube is flummoxed as to why his team can’t piece together 60 good minutes. In St. Louis, the Blues edged the Oilers late, overshadowing Connor McDavid becoming the 4th-fastest player ever to reach 1,100 points - though he didn’t record a shot on goal, a concerning trend for a player of his caliber on a roster that still feels a forward short. Winnipeg about to get a major boost with Adam Lowry’s return from hip surgery, the Jets have jumped out to another strong start, even after losing Ehlers and their captain on the shelf. Jonathan Toews’ faceoff dominance and unexpected scoring touch have also been revelations. Out West, the Kraken and Ducks are a surprising sight atop the Pacific division, with Seattle unbeaten at home and Anaheim’s young, fast core surging ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Pierre-Luc Dubois’ serious injury leaves Washington in a bind: last season’s magic isn’t repeating, and the Caps may need to dip into their prospect pool to find a 2nd-line centre... if one is even available.

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The Leafs were doubled up by Columbus in a rough night all around—Cayden Primeau struggled and the team looked disjointed. The fellas discuss the ongoing conversation surrounding Easton Cowan’s development amid Toronto’s perennially high expectations. John Tavares quietly hit 500 goals amid the loss, a milestone Ray says is best celebrated later. Elsewhere, Brad Marchand took a leave from the Panthers to support a grieving family friend—an act of compassion reminding everyone what truly matters. Meanwhile, Ottawa, Utah, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh—all praised on the last pod—promptly lost in Tuesday’s Frozen Frenzy, with chaos in Pittsburgh including disallowed goals and Crosby’s mysterious misconduct. In Vancouver, hard skating drills raised eyebrows as Adam Foote tried to jumpstart a depleted lineup as he saw fit considering the team's limited practice time. Plus, extensions for Thomas Harley and Logan Cooley, both 8 years north of $10M per, signal the new going rate for emerging stars in a rising-cap era.

Then in Ask Ray and Dregs Anything... rapid fire featuring talking hockey on days off, impressive & underperforming teams, dog-doo conundrums and Hallowe'een hypotheticals.

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Sidney Crosby continues to defy time, powering Pittsburgh to third overall in the league and second in the Metro under new coach Dan Muse, whose fresh approach seems to have rejuvenated the group. The Devils and Mammoth have become early-season storylines, each riding impressive win streaks and strong goaltending—Utah’s Karel Vejmelka leads the league in victories, with Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther driving the offence for new owner Ryan Smith’s surging franchise. New Jersey, meanwhile, keeps winning despite some major injuries, thanks to sharp special teams and depth scoring. In Ottawa, the Senators exploded for seven against Boston, with Drake Batherson stepping up in Brady Tkachuk’s absence and a lethal power play exposing a Bruins team in identity limbo. And finally, talk is heating up around Macklin Celebrini potentially cracking Team Canada’s Olympic roster—a debate fueled by his poise, preparation, and the growing feeling that he might just be “Crosby-lite.”

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Brad Marchand’s emotional return to Boston as a Florida Panther stole the night. Marchand drew a penalty on his first shift, assisted on the ensuing power-play goal, and was visibly moved during a heartfelt tribute video. The guys agree his number will one day be retired in Boston. Elsewhere, the Devils are rolling after a 5-2 win over the Leafs, with Hughes and Hischier leading a team that finally looks like the contender Ray expected last year. Toronto, meanwhile, looked big and slow, Anthony Stolarz allowed five goals one game after publicly calling out his team's performance, and Dregs wonders if Brad Treliving’s offseason tweaks may have backfired as the Leafs search for a second-line center and miss Mitch Marner badly. In Calgary, scoring has dried up despite Dustin Wolf’s strong play, while Montreal’s Ivan Demidov is emerging as a likely Calder Trophy candidate. In Buffalo, Colton Ellis’s debut win over Detroit capped a feel-good story for a goalie who’s battled through the minors to reach the NHL.

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Jonathan Toews scores his first as a Jet and shows he’s still got plenty left in the tank, while Mark Scheifele looks like a man on a mission to make Team Canada. In Vegas, Jack Eichel’s new contract hasn’t slowed him down one bit—he’s leading the league in points as the Golden Knights roll to the top of the Pacific. Vancouver’s dealing with tough injury news as Filip Chytil lands in concussion protocol after a heavy (and possibly late) Tom Wilson hit, and with Lekkerimäki also sidelined, the Canucks may be forced to hunt for centre help. In Toronto, Easton Cowan sits while Max Domi gets a top-line look, and goalie Anthony Stolarz’s public comments about defensive lapses & effort spark some chatter in the room. Meanwhile, in Edmonton, the Oilers head into Ottawa suffering through another sluggish start to a season, with Evan Bouchard struggling mightily and Connor McDavid looking surprisingly human so far.

Plus, Habs rookies, Dorofeyev, playoff salary cap and more in Ask Ray & Dregs Anything!

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The fellas dig in on NHL Headlines, starting with Chicago’s 8–3 win over St. Louis as Connor Bedard notched three assists in his 29th career multi-point game, showing signs he’s entering another level. Buffalo exploded for eight goals to beat Ottawa 8–4, easing early pressure but not fixing their deeper issues, while the Senators clearly miss Brady Tkachuk and may have Steve Staios working the phones. Florida’s injury list grows with Kulikov and Nosek out, but Bill Zito’s team remains resilient. The Rangers’ odd 0–3 home record without a goal at MSG highlights their top-heavy lineup, and in Toronto, rookie Easton Cowan earned his first NHL point alongside Auston Matthews. Ray also previews Oilers/Islanders, where No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer has been an early bright spot for a New York team trying to avoid its first-ever 0–4 start.

Plus, in Ask Ray & Dregs Anything... Stu Skinner's leash, are the Hurricanes different and best & worst travel hubs.

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The Panthers are silencing doubters with a hot start despite key injuries to Barkov and Tkachuk. Nathan MacKinnon is near the top of the scoring race, thriving alongside Martin Nečas as Colorado expects important clashes with Dallas throughout the year... and faces looming cap questions with Cale Makar’s next deal. Newly paid stars like Eichel, Kaprizov, and Connor are backing up their contracts with strong starts, and Team USA is shaping up to be a powerhouse for the Olympics. In Montreal, Lane Hutson’s eight-year extension locks in another key piece of the Habs’ young core, while Buffalo languishes again at the bottom, leaving players like Dahlin and Tuch frustrated in a team without identity. Detroit, meanwhile, looks poised for a breakout behind its youthful lineup, and in Toronto, Craig Berube is calling for more consistency from William Nylander, drawing Ray’s comparison to the enigmatic Alex Kovalev.

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