Auston Matthews has record-setting debut

MATTHEWS DAZZLES IN HISTORIC NHL DEBUT

* Four players scored at least three goals in their first NHL game prior to 1943-44: Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Smart (Jan. 14, 1943 vs. CHI: 3 G) and three players who accomplished the feat on the first day of NHL games, Dec. 19, 1917, but who all had played previously in the National Hockey Association, the direct predecessor to the NHL: Canadiens forward Joe Malone (5 G), Montreal Wanderers forward Harry Hyland (5 G) and Toronto Arenas forward Reg Noble (4 G).
* Elias adds that Matthews became just the fourth player in the modern era to score four goals in his team's season opener. The others: Vancouver Canucks forwards Rick Blight (Oct. 6, 1976: 4 G at PIT) and Greg Adams (Oct. 8, 1987: 4 G vs. STL) and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Chris Kontos (Oct. 7, 1992: 4 G vs. CHI).

* Matthews, the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, joined Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (Oct. 5, 2005: 2-0-2 vs. CBJ) as the only top picks to score multiple times in their NHL debuts.
* At 19 years, 26 days, Elias says that Matthews also became the third-youngest player in NHL history to scored four goals in a game, behind Toronto's Jack Hamilton on Dec. 4, 1943 (18 years, 185 days) and Washington's Bobby Carpenter on Feb. 25, 1982 (18 years, 227 days).
* Matthews' mother, Ema, was brought to
tears of jo
watching her son's performance.
*ICYMI: NHL players
reacted on Twitter
to Matthews' impressive showing:

Tweet from @mstlouis_26: Feels like I'm watching mite hockey where there's that one kid who's just way better than everyone else. Congrats @AM34 #easygame

NOTABLE DEBUTS FROM OTHER SPORTS

How Matthews' historic four-goal debut stacks up across other major professional leagues (with assistance from the Elias Sports Bureau):
* No player ever has hit three home runs in his MLB debut; the last to hit two was Trevor Story on April 4, 2016.
* The last player to score three touchdowns in his NFL debut was Marshall Faulk on Sept. 4, 1994.
* The most points scored by a player making his NBA debut is 43, by Wilt Chamberlain on Oct. 24, 1959.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
OTTAWA 5, Toronto 4 (OT)
St. Louis 5, CHICAGO 2
EDMONTON 7, Calgary 4
SAN JOSE 2, Los Angeles 1

MCDAVID LEADS OILERS TO VICTORY IN ROGERS PLACE OPENER

In his first regular-season game as Edmonton Oilers captain, Connor McDavid (2-1-3) had three points, including the game-winning goal on a penalty shot, to help Edmonton christen Rogers Place with an opening-night victory.
* McDavid scored on his first NHL penalty shot and the first at Rogers Place. Wayne Gretzky scored the first such goal at Rexall Place (then Northlands Coliseum) on Jan. 19, 1983 against the Winnipeg Jets.
* McDavid, who had his fourth and fifth NHL multi-goal and three-point games, respectively, has collected 18-33-51 in 46 career games (1.11 points per game).

* Oilers forward Pat Maroon scored the first regular-season goal at Rogers Place just 70 seconds after the opening faceoff. Leon Draisaitl, who scored the final goal at Rexall Place, on April 6 against the Canucks, had the assist.
* The Oilers announced that Gretzky, who
hit the ice
with Mark Messier before puck drop, has
joined Oilers Entertainment Group
as Partner and Vice Chair. The club also unveiled his statue as part of the Oilers Hall of Fame at Rogers Place.

(WEL)COMEBACK WINS

The San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues overcame deficits to win on opening night.
* Logan Couture (1-1-2) factored on both goals to help the Sharks overcome an early deficit and win their seventh consecutive season-opening game, extending the longest active such streak in the NHL. San Jose, who faced the Los Angeles Kings in a season opener for the third straight season, improved to 3-0-0 all-time in such contests against Los Angeles and to 9-1-1 in their its 11 season openers.
* Forward Kyle Turris (2-0-2) tied the game at 6:45 of the third period and scored in overtime. The win came in the debut of coach Guy Boucher. Defenseman Erik Karlsson had one goal and two assists to help the Senators improve to 5-0-0 all-time in season openers against the Maple Leafs.
* The Blues scored four unanswered goals, powered by Vladimir Tarasenko (2-1-3), Paul Stastny (1-2-3) and Kevin Shattenkirk (1-2-3), to spoil the Chicago Blackhawks' home opener and begin its 50th anniversary season with a victory. The Blues scored three power-play goals, tied for their most ever in a game at United Center (also March 28, 2004).

LOOSE PUCKS

Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, selected fourth in the 2016 draft, scored in his League debut. … Blackhawks forward Ryan Hartman, selected with the 30th pick of the 2013 draft, scored his first NHL goal, in his ninth game. … ICYMI: The NHL announced
expanded digital offerings
for fans. … United States Olympian Simone Biles played "Shoot the Puck" at the Blues-Blackhawks game.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY'S ACTION

All Times Eastern
NY Islanders @ NY Rangers, 7 p.m., MSG, MSG+ 2
Boston @ Columbus, 7 p.m., FS-O, NESN
Montreal @ Buffalo, 7 p.m., SN360, MSG-B, RDS
New Jersey @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-F, MSG+
Detroit @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, FS-D
Carolina @ Winnipeg, 8 p.m., TSN3, FS-CR
Minnesota @ St. Louis, 8 p.m., FS-MW, FS-N, FS-WI
Washington @ Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., NBCSN, TVAS2
Anaheim @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., FS-SW, PRIME

BANNER RAISING AMONG NIGHT TWO STORYLINES

* The Pittsburgh Penguins will open their 50th anniversary season by raising their Stanley Cup banner prior to their game against the Capitals. The Penguins defeated the Capitals in six games in the Eastern Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs en route to winning the fourth championship in franchise history.
* Forty-four year-old Jaromir Jagr, who ranks third all-time in goals and points, sixth in assists and eighth in games played, will start his 23rd NHL season when the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils play at BB&T Center. Teammate Roberto Luongo is one win shy of tying Jacques Plante for sixth all-time and needs one shutout to move into sole possession of 11th place all-time.
* Jets forward Patrik Laine, the No. 2 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, will make his regular-season debut when the Jets host the Carolina Hurricanes in each club's opening contest. Laine scored 17-16-33 in 46 games with Tappara in Liiga, Finland's top league, in 2015-16 to lead the league in goals and points by a rookie. He also was named MVP at the 2016 IIHF World Championship after he had seven goals in 10 games to help Finland win the silver medal.