Facts and Figures: Hurricanes continue fast start by defeating Panthers

The Carolina Hurricanes matched their best start since entering the NHL as the Hartford Whalers in 1979 by defeating the Florida Panthers 6-3 at BB&T Center on Tuesday to improve to 4-0-0.

The only other time the Hurricanes/Whalers started 4-0-0 was 1995-96, when Hartford won its first four games. The Whalers moved to Carolina in 1997.
After coming from behind to win each of their first three -- two in overtime and one in a shootout -- the Hurricanes proved they could also win in regulation and by playing with a lead. Carolina led 4-0 after the first period, giving the Hurricanes more than enough of a cushion to survive a 50-shot performance by the Panthers.
It's the third time in their history the Hurricanes scored at least four goals in the first period (also at the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 6, 2010 and at the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 4, 2006). Current coach Rod Brind'Amour had one of the first-period goals in each of those games.
One of Florida's three goals was scored by defenseman Keith Yandle, who became the first United States-born player and fifth player in NHL history to play in 800 consecutive games. Yandle has the longest consecutive-game streak among active players.

Ducks, Bruins remain perfect

The Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins each improved to 3-0-0 this season by winning on the road.
The Ducks scored three third-period goals to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 at Little Caesars Arena, matching their longest season-opening winning streak since entering the NHL in 1993; they also started 3-0-0 in 2006-07, when they went on to win the Stanley Cup. Goalie John Gibson made 21 saves and has allowed one goal in each of the three wins, making 98 saves on 101 shots. Gibson's career save percentage of .922 is tied with Hall of Famers Dominik Hasek, Johnny Bower and Ken Dryden for the highest in NHL history among goalies who have played at least 200 games.
The Bruins spotted the Vegas Golden Knights a two-goal lead before scoring four unanswered goals and holding on for a 4-3 win at T-Mobile Center. Forward Brad Marchand scored two goals and had an assist for Boston, which has won its first three games of the season on the road for the first time since entering the NHL in 1924.

Neal continues revival, helps Oilers defeat Islanders

Forward James Neal scored four goals to power the unbeaten Edmonton Oilers to their third consecutive win, 5-2 against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.
Neal has six goals in three games for the Oilers (3-0-0) after scoring seven in 63 games with the Calgary Flames last season; the Oilers acquired him from the Flames in a trade on July 19 that sent forward Milan Lucic to Calgary. The 12-year veteran also became the only active player to have at least one hat trick with four different teams (three with the Penguins, two with the Nashville Predators and one with the Dallas Stars).
It was the second four-goal game in the NHL in three days; forward Anthony Mantha had all of the Detroit Red Wings' goals in a 4-3 win against Dallas on Sunday. It's the fifth time in NHL history that two players have scored at least four goals in a game in the first seven days of the season; the most recent was 1992-93, when Chris Kontos (Lightning) and Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) did it.
Neal's six goals are the most by any player in his first three games with the Oilers, and he's the fourth player in Edmonton history to score four goals in a regular-season road game. The others: Wayne Gretzky (five times), Paul Coffey (at Calgary, Dec. 26, 1984) and Alexander Selivanov (at Chicago, Nov. 14, 1999).

Heinola helps Jets snap drought in Pittsburgh

Rookie Ville Heinola's first NHL goal helped the Winnipeg Jets get the franchise's first victory in Pittsburgh in nearly 13 years. The 18-year-old was one of three defensemen to score for the Jets in a 4-1 win at PPG Paints Arena, ending an 18-game losing streak (0-14-4) by the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers in Pittsburgh since Atlanta's 4-2 win at Mellon Arena on Dec. 27, 2006.
Heinola, the No. 20 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, became the second 18-year-old defenseman in Jets/Thrashers history to score an NHL goal, joining Zach Bogosian (Jan. 17, 2009). He also became the first player selected in the 2019 Draft to score a goal this season.