NHL On Tap: DeBrincat going for 300th goal when Red Wings host Flyers

There are 11 games on the NHL schedule for Thursday, including one nationally televised in the United States. Here are five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.

DeBrincat chasing 300

With a new contract in hand, Alex DeBrincat has an opportunity to reach a personal milestone when the Detroit Red Wings (1-3-2) host the Philadelphia Flyers at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+). The Detroit forward can become the fourth-fastest active United States-born player to score 300 goals, behind Auston Matthews (482 games), Kyle Connor (648) and Jake Guentzel (670). DeBrincat has 298 goals (305 assists, 603 points) in 702 games. DeBrincat signed a seven-year, $91 million contract with the Red Wings on Wednesday; it has an average annual value of $13 million and begins next season. The 28-year-old leads Detroit with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games. He had two goals and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Philadelphia (0-5-3) is in search of its first win of the season.

McDavid Magic

Connor McDavid is off to a flying start and has raced to the top of the NHL scoring chart with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in six games for the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton captain can become the fastest player to reach 20 points in a season since Mario Lemieux (seven games) in 1988-89, when the Oilers host the Utah Mammoth at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; SNW, Utah16, Mammoth+). Edmonton (5-0-1) is the only team yet to lose in regulation this season. The Oilers can extend their season opening point streak to seven games, which match 1983-84 team (7-0-0) for the second-longest in franchise history; the record is 15 straight (12-0, three ties) to start the 1984-85 season. Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard is second in NHL scoring with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in six games. Utah (5-2-0) has won two straight three of its past four (3-1-0) to take a one-point lead in the Central Division.

Hughes start

Quinn Hughes can extend his season-opening assist streak to eight games when the Minnesota Wild (4-2-1) host the St. Louis Blues (3-2-1) at Grand Casino Arena (8 p.m. ET; Wild+, BN+, STLNHL, MINNHL). The Minnesota defenseman has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in seven games. Only two other defensemen in NHL history, John-Michael Liles (nine games, 2010-11) and Filip Kuba (eight games, 2008-09) have started a season with assist streaks of eight games or longer. Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is also off to a fast start with 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in seven games. He can become the first Minnesota player to be first in the NHL to reach 10 goals in a season.

Garand stepping up

Dylan Garand has filled in well for New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is out for the season because of a lower-body injury sustained Oct. 9. Garand is 3-1-0 with a 1.15 goals against average and .951 save percentage in four games (three starts) and is expected to get the start for the Rangers (6-2-0) when they travel to face the New Jersey Devils (3-3-0) at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSG). The 24-year-old made 25 saves in a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Garand started the season as the Rangers' third goalie. He cleared waivers and was sent to Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sept. 28, and was recalled Oct. 1, after Joonas Korpisalo sustained a lower-body injury and was expected to be out for four weeks. Garand was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round (No. 103) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Bedard back in the game

Connor Bedard will play his second game of the season when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, TSN3). The 21-year-old had an assist in a 5-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his season debut Tuesday. He missed the first six games of the season following shoulder surgery for an injury sustained during an offseason training session July 2. Bedard led Chicago (2-5-0) with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games last season. Winnipeg (4-1-1) linemates Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each can extend point streaks to four games. Scheifele has six points (one goal, five assists) and Connor has five points (four goals, one assist) in the past three games.

The schedule

Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET; TSN4, MSG-B

New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, MSGSN

Seattle Kraken at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET; Prime Video, The Spot, KONG

Vancouver Canucks at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SNP, TVAS

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSG

Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+

Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. ET; CHSN, TSN3

San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSCA

St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET; Wild+, BN+, STLNHL, MINNHL

Utah Mammoth at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m. ET; SNW, Utah16, Mammoth+

Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SN1, TVAS