Nov 2, 2026 2:37 PM
Welcome to another edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, where hosts Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos break down the biggest storylines, standout performances, and defining moments from around the National Hockey League. Following a busy weekend featuring 18 games played between Friday and Sunday, there was no shortage of action, milestones, and dramatic shifts in the standings to unpack.
From milestone climbing by one of the game’s ultimate icons to historic goaltending performances and sliding skids, the early-season landscape of the NHL is beginning to take shape. Let’s run through the biggest storylines that emerged from this past weekend’s packed slate of games.
Kochetkov Makes Hurricanes History
The Carolina Hurricanes continue to roll through the early portion of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, capturing their fourth consecutive victory in dominant fashion with a 7-0 shutout win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. At the center of Carolina’s stellar run is goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who turned aside all 26 shots he faced to secure a clean sheet against Winnipeg.
With the shutout victory, Kochetkov etched his name into the franchise record books. The young netminder put together the best start in Carolina Hurricanes history, improving his pristine record to 10-0-0 to begin the campaign. Kochetkov’s remarkable run has been underpinned by elite numbers; he boasts an exceptional .929 save percentage and a microscopic 1.49 goals-against average over his first ten appearances, establishing himself as a formidable anchor for a Hurricanes team that currently sits at the very top of the league’s points percentage leaderboard.
On the other side of the ice, the matchup highlighted the contrasting fortunes of two franchises heading in opposite directions. The Winnipeg Jets continue to endure a dismal stretch of hockey, searching desperately for answers as their struggles mount. Sunday’s loss extended Winnipeg’s losing streak to nine games. During this challenging nine-game slide, the Jets have been outscored 37-16, raising significant questions about their early-season trajectory. Winnipeg now finds themselves lingering in seventh place within a competitive Central Division with a disappointing 4-8-3 record, needing to spark a turnaround quickly to salvage their campaign.
Canadiens Stay Hot, Crosby Climbs All-Time Scoring List
Further north, the Montreal Canadiens kept their momentum rolling by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Saturday night. The hard-fought victory marked the fifth consecutive win for Montreal, a team that continues to turn heads early in the year. A major catalyst for the Canadiens’ success has been the phenomenal play of rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler. Fowler captured his seventh straight win on Saturday, a stellar stretch of play that was appropriately recognized by the league when he was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month on Sunday.
Despite the loss for Pittsburgh, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby provided a historic highlight that commanded the attention of the entire hockey world. The legendary center put together a vintage three-point performance, a milestone-heavy night that allowed him to tie Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne for sixth place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
Crosby’s relentless production continues to defy expectations, and his climb up the record books is far from over. With this latest offensive outburst, the longtime Penguins leader sits just 27 points back of Ron Francis for fifth place all-time. Furthermore, Crosby is 79 points behind Gordie Howe for fourth place on the prestigious list. Given his current pace and enduring brilliance, there is a strong possibility that Crosby could surpass both hockey legends before the conclusion of the season, adding yet another astonishing chapter to his storied career.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers made a strong statement over the weekend by sweeping their brief road trip through the New York metropolitan area. The Oilers put together a complete defensive and offensive effort to defeat the New York Islanders 4-0 in a shutout victory on Saturday night, before following up with a solid 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
With the back-to-back victories, Edmonton extended its winning streak to three games. The strong weekend surge has propelled the Oilers to the top of the Pacific Division standings. Across the wider NHL landscape, Edmonton now holds the second-best points percentage in the entire league, trailing only the streaking Carolina Hurricanes as the schedule moves deeper into November.