Golden Knights win battle of brothers on emotional night in Nashville

Oh brother, what a night it was Friday in the NHL.
Not only did the Subban brothers, P.K. and Malcolm, play against each other in a hockey game at any level of organized hockey for the first time, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin did something no player in the NHL had done in 12 years to once again change the landscape in the tight Metropolitan Division.

In Nashville, Malcolm made 41 saves and didn't allow a goal in a six-round shootout to help lift the Vegas Golden Knights to
a 4-3 victory against the Nashville Predators
. P.K., a Predators defenseman, said after the win that he was proud of his brother. So was Karl Subban, their dad, who was there wearing a Golden Knights jersey.

NHL.com Columnist Nick Cotsonika
captured the emotional day for the Subban family
.
Panarin had a career-high five assists in the
Blue Jackets' 5-3 win against the New Jersey Devils
. The victory moved the Blue Jackets past the Devils into first place.
How tight is the Metropolitan Division? Five points separate the top six teams.
Panarin became the 25th NHL player to have at least five primary assists in a game since 1936-37 and the first since New York Rangers defenseman
Brian Leetch did it in a 6-5 loss
to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 18, 1995.

The record for primary assists in a game is seven, set by Wayne Gretzky
in a 12-9 win against the Chicago Blackhawks
on Dec. 11, 1985.

Don't forget about me!

The Subbans weren't the only big storyline in Nashville on Friday. Former Predators forward James Neal played his
first game at Bridgestone Arena
since he was taken by the Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft on June 21.

Not so fast

Players like Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews may be the future of the NHL, but Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby
isn't exactly ready to move on
from the present just yet.

Remember when?

When the Rangers played in the 2012 Winter Classic, they had an epic ugly sweater party. Brian Boyle dressed up as an elf. It was terrific. Watch it again, why don't you?

The boys are back

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson, also known as "Mr. Wheels," joins the "On the Bench" crew in their latest eppie.