Jack Hughes was one of a trio of Metropolitan Division skaters that shone during their respective team's season opener, picking up two points and accomplishing a franchise first in the process. An 18 year rivalry recommences during a two game Friday as Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin go head to head at 7:30 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. KREIDER, ZIBANEJAD, SHESTERKIN OPEN 2023 24 IN MID SEASON FORMChris Kreider 2 1 3 and Mika Zibanejad 0 3 3 both factored on three of five New York goals, accomplishing several franchise and NHL feats Rasmus Kumpulainen Jersey, while Igor Shesterkin made 24 saves for his 100th career win as the Rangers opened 2023 24 victorious. Kreider tallied with the man advantage as well as shorthanded for his 36th career multi goal game and boosted his career totals in season opening games to 5 6 11 11 GP. His five goals in those contests trail only Butch Keeling 7 , Jean Ratelle 6 and Cecil Dillon 6 for the most in franchise history. Zibanejad became the 13th player with multiple three assist performances in a season opener also 1 3 4 on Oct. 3, 2019 and the fourth active skater following Evgeny Kuznetsov 0 3 3 on Oct. 5, 2017 Oct. 13, 2021 , John Tavares 0 3 3 on Oct. 10, 2014 Oct. 11, 2023 and Nicklas Backstrom 0 3 3 on Oct. 1, 2009 Oct. 3, 2018.Shesterkin became the eighth Rangers goaltender to reach the 100 win milestone and did so in 159 games, surpassing Henrik Lundqvist's mark of 187 for the fewest in club history. OTHER METROPOLITAN DIVISION PLAYERS SHINE IN SEASON OPENERSThe Metropolitan Division provided no shortage of storylines to begin the new campaign as Devils, Flyers and Blue Jackets skaters produced notable performances during their first games of 2023 24: Jack Hughes 2 0 2 , who finished the 2022 23 regular season with points in each of his last eight games 3 10 13 in 8 GP , scored his third and fourth career goals in a season opener to lift the Devils to a come from behind win. The 22 year old became the first player in franchise history to collect multiple points in three separate season opening contests, after previously posting 2 0 2 to start 2021 22 and 0 2 2 to begin 2020 21. Joel Farabee 1 0 1 opened the scoring just 3:33 into the game while Travis Konecny 2 0 2 climbed the Flyers' all time goals and points lists in season opening contests to help Philadelphia start 2023 24 on a winning note. Philadelphia has now collected at least one point in each of its last nine season openers dating to 2015 16. Patrik Laine 1 0 1 recorded a point in his eighth consecutive season opening game dating to 2016 17 and established the longest run to begin a career in NHL history. He surpassed Mats Sundin 7 GP; 1990 91 to 1996 97 , Joe Sakic 7 GP; 1988 89 to 1994 95 and Wayne Gretzky 7 GP; 1979 80 to 1985 86.FABER'S FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATESThursday's edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured 11 teams contesting their season openers, including the Wild who saw hometown Brock Faber score his first NHL goal with friends and family in attendance while Filip Gustavsson recorded 41 saves in a perfect performancetied for the third most in a season opening shutout. Faber grew up a Wild fan and skated for his hometown NCAA team, the University of Minnesota, for the past three seasons in a run that concluded with him captaining the club in 2022 23. On April 29, 2022, Faber was photographed in the stands celebrating Kirill Kaprizov's goal531 days later, Kaprizov celebrated Faber's first NHL goal as his teammate.HIGHLIGHTING PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT 2023 24Throughout the 2023 24 season, we'll be highlighting the work players are doing across the League to improve their community. These player driven initiatives are growing the game as well as bettering communities by providing medical and mental health resources. Timo Meier, who skated in the Devils' season opener Thursday and is set to take to the ice with his team Friday when they welcome the Coyotes, is the first feature. Meier changed his number in the offseason and is making it up to fans by providing incentives through the first two weeks of the regular season for those who purchase his new jersey. Meier's program includes a donation to Hockey in New Jersey, an organization that inspires youth to develop life skills and provides 'year round hockey programs for inner city children who are underrepresented due to gender, race, ethnicity, disability or socioeconomic status.' Click here to look back on features of players in the community from 2022 23.QUICK CLICKS #NHLStats Pack: Boston Bruins Centennial Year Celebration Adam Fantilli surprised by birthday wishes from family and friends ahead of first NHL game Damar Hamlin returns the love to Buffalo at Sabres game Joe Bertagna named 2023 Lester Patrick Trophy honoree NHL on TNT's Blackhawks Bruins telecast is the network's most watched opening night game everLATEST CROSBY OVECHKIN SHOWDOWN TONIGHT ON ESPN+For the 66th time in the regular season as part of a rivalry that has spanned 18 years, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will meet Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in Washington's first game of 2023 24. Crosby holds the edge in team record 38 23 4 and points 28 58 86 in those meetings while Ovechkin Jack Peart Jersey, true to form, leads in goals 34 and power play markers 17. The game will air exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. and will also be televised on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.The two veteran stars aim to return their franchises to the postseason after rare misses in 2022 23it marked the first time Pittsburgh had missed the playoffs since 2005 06 and the first time for Washington since 2013 14. The Penguins added 2023 Stanley Cup champion Reilly Smith and three time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson to the fold, while the Capitals hope healthy seasons from veteran mainstays Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson and John Carlson will help them get back in the playoff picture. Ovechkin opens his 2023 24 campaign with a myriad of milestones on the horizon. He sits one away from becoming the first player in NHL history to score 300 power play goals, 15 points from becoming the 16th player in NHL history to reach 1, 500 points and continues his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky on the all time goals list. Crosby, meanwhile, sits 48 helpers shy of becoming the 14th player in NHL history to reach 1, 000 assists and 87 points away from entering the top 10 on the NHL's all time points list.COYOTES' COOLEY LATEST ROOKIE PRIMED FOR NHL DEBUTIn what already looks to be a loaded rookie class, Coyotes forward Logan Cooley is expected to make his NHL debut when the Coyotes visit the Devils in Friday's other contest. Cooley, who was selected third overall by Arizona in the 2022 NHL Draft, starred for the University of Minnesota in 2022 23 22 38 60 in 39 GP and led all Coyotes skaters in preseason scoring with 4 2 6 in five games including one memorable goal in Melbourne https://www.wildprostore.com/joel-teasdale-jersey, Australia. Cooley 19 years, 162 days can become the fifth teenager in Coyotes Jets history to score in his NHL debut. The four to do so to date include Jason Doig 18 years, 251 days in 1995 96 , Kris Draper 19 years, 133 days in 1990 91 , Dave Babych 19 years, 140 days in 1980 81 and Christian Fischer 19 years, 281 days in 2016 17.

Wild Store