By Field Level Media
Oct 26 (Field Level Media) – Quinn Hughes scored a goal and had an assist while reaching the 500-point career mark in his return to Vancouver, and Kirill Kaprizov scored his league- leading 13th goal and also had an assist as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Canucks 4-2 on Sunday night.
Hughes, playing his first game in Vancouver since he was sent to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 12, 2025, became the second-fastest American defenseman in NHL history to reach 500 career points. Brian Leetch accomplished the feat in 496 games while Hughes, who was booed each time he touched the puck, did it in 520 games.
Maxim Shabanov scored a goal and had an assist and Bobby Brink also scored a goal for the Wild, who moved two points ahead of the Utah Mammoth into first place in the Central Division. Calvin Pickard, making just his second start of the season, finished with 15 saves for his first win with Minnesota.
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored goals and Leevi Merilainen finished with 30 saves for the Canucks, who lost their 10th straight game (0-9-1).
Canadiens 2, Jets 1
Jacob Fowler made 33 saves as Montreal edged Winnipeg in the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic played outdoors at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
Lane Hutson and fellow defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored, and Cole Caufield had two assists for the Canadiens in the NHL’s 46th outdoor game and 10th played in Canada.
Isak Rosen scored a late goal and Stuart Skinner made 19 saves for the Jets, who have lost five in a row (0-3-2). Dawson Mercer made his Winnipeg debut after he was acquired from the New Jersey Devils as part of Friday’s trade for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and the forward had two shots in 15:22.
Panthers 3, Blackhawks 2
Lars Eller tallied the go-ahead goal with 2:23 remaining in the third period and Sandis Vilmanis and Matthew Tkachuk also scored to lift visiting Florida to a victory against Chicago.
Eller netted his first goal of the season at 17:37 of the third period as the Panthers caught the Blackhawks in a line change. Eller took a long pass from Aaron Ekblad just inside the blue line, weaved down the right side and ripped a wrist shot from the circle past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight. Goaltender Akira Schmid stopped 19 shots as Florida snapped a two-game losing streak.
Ryan Greene and Roman Kantserov scored while Knight made 30 saves for the Blackhawks, who went 0-for-7 on the power play. Chicago fell to 2-4-0 on a seven-game homestand that is set to conclude with Tuesday’s visit from the Los Angeles Kings.
Stars 6, Islanders 3
Jason Robertson scored two goals for his fourth straight multi-point performance, fueling host Dallas to a victory over New York.
Robertson scored in the first period and converted on a breakaway in the third to boost his point total to 13 (five goals, eight assists) in his last nine games. Wyatt Johnston and Tyler Seguin each collected a goal and an assist, Mikko Rantanen and Justin Hryckowian also tallied and Jake Oettinger made 17 saves to send the Stars to their fifth straight victory.
Dallas spoiled the return of Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer, who served as the Stars’ bench boss for three seasons (2022-25) — taking that club to the Western Conference final in each campaign. New York’s Matthew Schaefer, 19, scored a goal for the second time in as many games and boosted his career total to 25, moving him past Hall of Famer Bobby Orr for the second most by a teenage defenseman in NHL history.
Predators 6, Avalanche 2
Ryan O’Reilly scored twice, including the game-winner, and added two assists as host Nashville beat Colorado to avoid a third straight loss and win for just the second time in seven outings (2-2-3).
Steven Stamkos scored a pair and contributed a helper for the Predators, Filip Forsberg had a goal and added two assists, and Jack Drury also tallied while Roman Josi added three helpers. Justus Annunen made 19 saves for his first win of the season.
Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews responded for the Avalanche, who have lost three of four and dropped to 2-4-0 on the road. Martin Necas registered two assists, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 shots.
(–Field Level Media)
