NHL morning recap: October 23, 2025 brings thrilling finishes and impressive debuts

Devils extend winning streak to six games with dominant win over Wild

The New Jersey Devils continued their impressive start to the season, defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-1 at Prudential Center to capture their sixth consecutive victory. This winning streak represents the Devils’ longest since a remarkable 13-game run early in the 2022-23 season, signaling that the team has found its rhythm after an opening loss to Carolina.

Nico Daws made his season debut in spectacular fashion, stopping 29 of 30 shots to earn the victory. The 24-year-old goaltender stepped in seamlessly after Jake Allen had won the previous three games for New Jersey. With starter Jacob Markstrom sidelined since October 13 with an injury sustained against Columbus, the Devils’ goaltending depth has proven crucial to their early success.

Paul Cotter opened the scoring with 3:39 remaining in the first period, jamming a loose puck past Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson for his first goal of the season. The Devils doubled their lead at 6:08 of the second period when Brenden Dillon notched his second goal in as many nights, continuing his offensive surge from the blue line.

The scoring continued in the third period when rookie Arseny Gritsyuk tallied his first NHL goal on the power play at 4:53. The 24-year-old forward, who was drafted in the fifth round back in 2019, provided another example of the Devils’ strong organizational depth. Matt Boldy spoiled Daws’ shutout bid midway through the final frame with his fifth goal of the campaign, but Jesper Bratt sealed the victory with an empty-net marker. Dawson Mercer contributed two assists in the winning effort.

New Jersey’s penalty kill unit has been exceptional through seven games, denying all three Wild power plays to extend their streak of consecutive kills to 21. The Devils have surrendered just one power-play goal all season, a remarkable testament to their defensive structure and discipline.

The Wild finished their five-game road trip with just one victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 21. The disappointing stretch leaves Minnesota searching for consistency as they prepare to return home for a six-game homestand.

Rookie goaltender Colten Ellis shines in Sabres debut against Red Wings

Jack Quinn recorded a goal and two assists, but the story of the night belonged to Colten Ellis, who stopped 27 shots in his NHL debut to lead the Buffalo Sabres past the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. The 25-year-old netminder, claimed off waivers from St. Louis earlier this month, became the eighth Nova Scotia-born goalie in NHL history and the ninth goalie in Sabres history to win his NHL debut.

Ellis didn’t face a shot in the opening 10 minutes but quickly proved his worth by stopping Marco Kasper on a breakaway late in the first period. He followed that impressive save with another breakaway denial, this time against Dylan Larkin early in the second period. The rookie goaltender withstood a flurry of shots after Detroit pulled John Gibson with approximately three minutes remaining, maintaining his composure under pressure.

The Red Wings struck first when J.T. Compher beat Ellis with a nifty move, corralling a pass from Albert Johansson and whipping it to his forehand to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. However, the Sabres responded quickly through Jason Zucker, who scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Quinn midway through the second period. Zucker’s goal proved costly for Buffalo as he left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

Tyson Kozak extended his point streak to two games with a goal following a short pass from Quinn, giving Buffalo a 2-1 advantage. Emmitt Finnie tied the contest late in the period by charging to the front of the net and one-timing a pass from Larkin, who recorded an assist to extend his season-opening point streak to seven games. The veteran center became the first Detroit player with such a streak since Brian Rafalski accomplished the feat in 2008-09.

Quinn broke the 2-2 deadlock early in the third period, scoring from between the circles to give Buffalo the lead for good. Josh Doan provided insurance with a goal from the left circle, beating Gibson to make it 4-2 and secure the victory.

The loss ended Detroit’s five-game winning streak and sent them to face the New York Islanders on October 24 looking to bounce back quickly.

Canadiens ride overtime magic as Matheson delivers winner in Calgary

Mike Matheson scored on a one-timer off Ivan Demidov’s crossing pass just one minute into overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. The decisive goal came from the left side as Matheson beat goaltender Dustin Wolf, securing Montreal’s second straight victory and sixth win in seven games since their opening loss of the season.

Rookie sensation Jakub Dobes continued his perfect start to his NHL career, making 36 saves to improve his record to 4-0. The young goaltender has been outstanding for the Canadiens, providing stability between the pipes and giving his team confidence to play an aggressive style. Demidov’s playmaking ability has drawn praise as the rookie forward continues to adjust to the NHL pace, showcasing the vision and skill that made him a highly-touted prospect.

Zack Bolduc opened the scoring for Montreal with a power-play goal with 2:51 remaining in the first period, giving the visitors an early advantage. The Flames pushed back throughout the game, outshooting the Canadiens significantly, but couldn’t solve Dobes until Adam Klapka tied the game at 5:56 of the third period.

Wolf made 26 saves in the losing effort for Calgary, which fell to 1-6-1 on the season. The Flames’ only victory came in their season opener, and they now face mounting pressure to find solutions as they prepare to visit Winnipeg on October 25.

The Canadiens demonstrated their resilience and ability to win close games, traits that will serve them well as the season progresses. Montreal’s quick turnaround from their opening loss shows a team with strong character and leadership, as they head to Edmonton on October 24 looking to extend their winning streak.

Notable performances and looking ahead from the NHL morning recap October 23, 2025

Several other compelling storylines emerged from Wednesday’s action across the league. The Devils’ penalty kill has become a defining characteristic of their early-season success, now sitting at an impressive 96.7% success rate through seven games. This defensive prowess, combined with strong goaltending depth, positions New Jersey as a legitimate contender in the Metropolitan Division.

The emergence of rookie goaltenders continues to be a significant theme this season. Ellis joined an exclusive club of Nova Scotia-born netminders while Dobes maintained his perfect record for Montreal. These young goalies are proving that patience and development in the minor leagues can pay dividends when opportunity knocks at the NHL level.

Detroit’s point streak for Dylan Larkin represents individual excellence even in defeat. Becoming the first Red Wings player since Brian Rafalski in 2008-09 to record a seven-game season-opening point streak highlights Larkin’s importance to the team’s offensive production. The Red Wings will need his continued production as they look to bounce back from their first loss in six games.

Calgary’s struggles present an early-season puzzle that management and coaching staff must address quickly. At 1-6-1, the Flames have not built on their opening victory and now face questions about their roster construction and systems. Wolf has played well in net, but the lack of goal support has plagued the team through eight games.

As we look ahead, the October 24 matchups promise more excitement. The Canadiens travel to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers, while Buffalo hosts Toronto in a divisional showdown. The Devils will have a day to rest before hosting San Jose on October 25, looking to extend their winning streak to seven games. These early-season contests are beginning to separate the contenders from the pretenders as teams establish their identities for the long campaign ahead.

The NHL morning recap for October 23, 2025, showcased the league’s depth, competitive balance, and the emergence of young talent capable of making immediate impacts. From clutch overtime goals to impressive debuts, hockey fans were treated to another memorable evening of action that will shape the narratives as the season continues to unfold.