NHL morning recap October 24 2025: Celebrini's brilliance highlights action-packed night

NHL morning recap October 24 2025: Celebrini’s brilliance highlights action-packed night

The NHL delivered another thrilling slate of games on October 23, 2025, with rookies stealing headlines, offensive explosions lighting up scoreboards, and overtime drama keeping fans on the edge of their seats. From Macklin Celebrini’s historic five-point performance to Logan Cooley’s natural hat trick, the night showcased the league’s emerging stars while veteran superstars like Sidney Crosby reminded everyone why they remain elite.

Twelve games featured everything hockey fans crave: comeback victories, dominant performances, and special retro matchups between the Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques throwback jerseys. As the season enters its third week, several teams are establishing themselves as early contenders while others search for answers to pressing questions.

Celebrini’s five-point masterpiece powers Sharks to first win in NHL morning recap October 24 2025

The San Jose Sharks finally broke through for their first victory of the season in spectacular fashion, with rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini recording a hat trick and two assists in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win against the New York Rangers. The first overall pick demonstrated why he was so highly coveted, scoring three goals and setting up Will Smith twice in a performance that will be remembered for years in San Jose.

Celebrini opened his account on the power play at 6:17 of the first period before adding an even-strength marker late in the opening frame. His third goal came midway through the second period, giving him his first NHL hat trick. But the rookie wasn’t finished, assisting on Smith’s goal in the third period to tie the game at 5-5.

In overtime, Celebrini set up Smith for his second goal of the night just 1:38 into the extra frame, capping one of the most impressive individual performances of the young season. The five-point night marked the highest-scoring game by a teenager since Connor McDavid’s early career heroics.

Taylor Raddysh recorded a hat trick for the Rangers in a losing effort, including a rare shorthanded goal in the second period. The back-and-forth affair featured nine goals through regulation before Smith’s overtime winner finally ended the Sharks’ winless drought to start the season.

The victory provides much-needed relief for San Jose, who had opened the campaign 0-4-2. For Celebrini, the performance validates the hype surrounding his selection and offers a glimpse of the franchise cornerstone the Sharks believe they’ve found. The chemistry developing between Celebrini, Smith, and William Eklund suggests San Jose’s rebuild may progress faster than anticipated.

Islanders offensive explosion dominates Red Wings in NHL morning recap October 24 2025

The New York Islanders continued their impressive early-season form with a dominant 7-2 dismantling of the Detroit Red Wings, extending their winning streak to four games. Emil Heineman led the charge with two goals, while Anders Lee provided three assists in a performance that highlighted the Islanders’ depth scoring capabilities.

Tony DeAngelo opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game, setting the tone for what would become a one-sided affair. The Islanders’ balanced attack saw seven different goal scorers find the back of the net, demonstrating the kind of offensive depth that makes them dangerous on any given night.

Mathew Barzal and Simon Holmstrom each contributed a goal and an assist, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri also found the scoresheet. The Islanders built a 5-0 lead before Detroit finally responded through Dylan Larkin’s power-play goal midway through the third period.

The Red Wings showed little resistance against a motivated Islanders squad that continues to build momentum. Detroit’s Cam Talbot faced 30 shots but could only turn aside 23, as the Islanders’ relentless pressure created numerous high-quality scoring chances throughout the contest.

For the Islanders, the victory represents their most complete performance of the season. The team’s ability to roll four lines effectively and generate offense from throughout the lineup suggests they’re rounding into the form many predicted during the preseason. According to The Hockey Writers’ comprehensive recap, the Islanders’ offensive explosion showcased the team’s potential when all cylinders are firing.

Crosby turns back the clock in Penguins victory over Panthers

Sidney Crosby reminded the hockey world that father time remains undefeated but can certainly be delayed, recording two goals and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Florida Panthers 5-3. The legendary center’s performance included two power-play markers, showcasing his enduring ability to dominate in crucial situations.

Crosby opened the scoring just 6:24 into the first period with a power-play goal assisted by Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. The trio demonstrated the chemistry built over years of playing together, combining for several scoring chances throughout the night. Crosby’s second goal, another power-play tally late in the third period, effectively sealed the victory for Pittsburgh.

Erik Karlsson contributed three assists in the win, continuing his strong start to the season with the Penguins. The Swedish defenseman has seamlessly integrated into Pittsburgh’s system, providing the offensive spark from the blue line that the team lacked in recent seasons.

Brad Marchand scored twice for Florida in the losing effort, but the Panthers couldn’t solve Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry when it mattered most. The Panthers’ struggles on special teams proved costly, as they surrendered two power-play goals while managing just two markers with the man advantage themselves.

The victory keeps Pittsburgh competitive in a crowded Metropolitan Division, while Florida searches for the consistency that defined their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. For Crosby, the performance serves as yet another reminder that reports of his decline remain greatly exaggerated.

Cooley’s natural hat trick leads Utah to dominant road win

Logan Cooley delivered the most impressive individual period of the night, scoring three consecutive goals in the first frame to power Utah to a commanding 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The young center completed his natural hat trick in just over four minutes of game action, then added a power-play goal later in the period for good measure.

Cooley’s eruption began just 3:18 into the game, assisted by Ian Cole and J.J. Peterka. Less than three minutes later, he struck again with Dylan Guenther and Peterka providing the helpers. At 7:57, Cooley completed the natural hat trick before capping his four-goal period on the power play at 10:55.

The historic outburst gave Utah a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes, effectively ending the contest before the Blues could mount any serious resistance. Peterka finished with four assists, while Guenther recorded three helpers as Utah’s top line dominated from start to finish.

Clayton Keller added two goals, including an empty-netter, while Nick Schmaltz contributed a goal and two assists. The offensive explosion demonstrated Utah’s potent attack when firing on all cylinders, a warning to the rest of the Western Conference.

St. Louis attempted to rally with four goals across the final two periods, but the deficit proved too substantial to overcome. Pavel Buchnevich, Pius Suter, Nathan Walker, and Philip Broberg all scored for the Blues, but Utah’s early cushion allowed them to cruise to victory. The win continues Utah’s solid start to the season and establishes them as a team capable of explosive offensive performances.

Oilers complete dramatic comeback against Canadiens

Connor McDavid recorded four assists as the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a 5-3 deficit to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 in one of the night’s most entertaining contests. Vasily Podkolzin scored the game-winner with just 1:09 remaining, capping a third-period surge that saw Edmonton score three unanswered goals.

Cole Caufield scored twice for Montreal, moving into a tie for the NHL scoring lead with seven goals through the season’s opening weeks. The American sniper has picked up where he left off last season, terrorizing opposing goaltenders with his deadly release and positioning.

Alex Newhook also recorded two goals for the Canadiens, who appeared poised to secure a road victory after taking a 5-3 lead early in the third period. However, Edmonton’s power play came alive at the crucial moment, with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring consecutive man-advantage goals to level the contest.

McDavid’s four-assist performance showcased his playmaking brilliance, as he orchestrated Edmonton’s attack with his trademark vision and passing ability. The captain now has 10 assists through the season’s first weeks, demonstrating his continued dominance despite increased defensive attention.

The comeback victory represents the kind of resilience championship contenders must display throughout an 82-game season. For Montreal, the loss stings after controlling much of the contest, but Caufield’s continued scoring prowess provides optimism for a team building toward contention.

Other notable results from the NHL morning recap October 24 2025

Ryan Donato scored twice, including an empty-net goal with 54 seconds remaining, to lift the Chicago Blackhawks past the slumping Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Frank Nazar opened the scoring for Chicago, while Jake Guentzel and Ryan McDonagh tallied for Tampa Bay, who have now dropped six games this season.

Joey Daccord recorded a 32-save shutout as the Seattle Kraken blanked the Winnipeg Jets 3-0. Jaden Schwartz scored twice, including an empty-netter, while Jordan Eberle added another insurance marker late in the third period. The victory continues Seattle’s solid defensive play to start the campaign.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in a shootout, with Seth Jarvis scoring the only goal in the skills competition. The game featured a special retro matchup with the teams wearing Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques throwback jerseys, delighting fans with a nostalgic nod to NHL history.

Adrian Kempe scored just 37 seconds into overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Corey Perry opened the scoring on the power play for Los Angeles, while Wyatt Johnston recorded a goal for Dallas in the losing effort.

Mikael Granlund recorded two goals and three assists to pace the Anaheim Ducks to a 7-5 victory over the Boston Bruins. The wild, back-and-forth contest featured 12 combined goals as both teams struggled defensively. Morgan Geekie scored twice for Boston, but the Bruins couldn’t overcome Anaheim’s offensive firepower.

Looking ahead as the season develops momentum

As teams approach the end of October, early trends are beginning to crystallize. The Islanders’ four-game winning streak has established them as a Metropolitan Division threat, while San Jose’s first victory provides hope that their rebuild may progress more quickly than anticipated. Celebrini’s emergence as an immediate impact player gives the Sharks a cornerstone to build around for the next decade.

Edmonton’s resilience in comeback situations demonstrates the championship mentality required for postseason success, while Pittsburgh’s veterans continue proving they have plenty left in the tank. The Western Conference appears wide open, with Utah’s offensive explosiveness and Seattle’s defensive reliability suggesting multiple teams could challenge for supremacy.

As the NHL season continues to unfold, October 24 brings a fresh slate of games with the Devils seeking their seventh consecutive victory against the struggling Sharks, while the Capitals visit the Blue Jackets and the Maple Leafs face the Sabres. The quality of play and competitive balance across the league promises more memorable performances in the nights ahead. For those following along closely, detailed analysis can be found through NHL.com’s official game coverage, ensuring fans never miss a moment of the action.