Another jam-packed Saturday is in store, too, with 12 games on the schedule, and then three more contests are set for Sunday night.
Here are three other games you don't want to miss this weekend:
Nashville Predators @ Chicago Blackhawks
It's always compelling when these Central Division foes clash, and Friday night's affair should be no different.
They met for the first time this season a couple of weeks ago, as Brandon Saad scored the overtime winner to give the Blackhawks a (small) measure of (regular-season) revenge after the Predators swept them out of the first round of the playoffs last spring.
Saad has been great so far in his return to the Windy City, leading the Blackhawks with six goals in 10 games, while Filip Forsberg scored Nashville's lone goal in the first meeting and has been on an absolute tear, piling up seven goals and 12 points in nine contests.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ St. Louis Blues
The Blues have quietly been one of the NHL's best teams so far this fall, and they've been fun to watch.
Some were skeptical about the Blue Jackets' chances of duplicating their superb 2016-17 regular season, but they've looked solid early on as well.
The Blues (7-2-1) and Blue Jackets (6-3-0) meet Saturday night in what should be an entertaining clash featuring electric talent, including Vladimir Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin.
Panarin's been making plays early in his Blue Jackets tenure, with nine assists in his first nine games, but he's been held to only one goal. Busting out against a solid Blues defensive corps is going to be tough, but it should be an entertaining tilt regardless.
Alex Ovechkin has a talented supporting cast in Washington, but the Capitals are 4-5-1 through 10 games.
Both dynamic forwards will be looking to make a statement and continue shouldering the load for their respective squads in Saturday's nightcap, and that should make it worth staying up for.
Over the course of the 2017-18 season, theScore will run a series of interviews with former players in which they recall some of the greatest moments of their career. This edition focuses on Adam Graves, who scored 329 goals and won a pair of Stanley Cup titles in 16 seasons with four NHL teams.
On what he remembers from his first NHL game:
My first game was with Detroit, and Jacques Demers was the coach. I remember playing on a line with Brent Ashton and Shawn Burr. I don't think I played many shifts, but when I did get out there, I was playing against Wayne Gretzky's line. I'll never forget it; I didn't go over center.
This was back in the day, when you would put your stick out and try to hook a little bit into Jari Kurri and follow him around a little bit. You talk about being nervous - that was about as humbling a start as you can get in hockey. I think we won that game 4-1, but I didn't play a very big role. I do remember how nervous I was, and how fortunate I felt to be on the ice that night.
On his first career goal:
It was in Toronto, and it was against Allan Bester. I always kid because I wasn't a player that anyone would remember any of my goals, because they were never fancy. But this particular goal happened to be a play-of-the-year contender - and it had nothing to do with what I did on the ice.
Steve Yzerman had the puck, did a spin-o-rama I believe around Brad Marsh, and deked out two or three guys. I happened to be standing beside the net at the old Maple Leaf Gardens, and he banked it off my stick and into the net.
When I say, "Yeah, my first goal was up for goal of the year," people are like, "Get out of here." And then they see the goal and they go, "Oh, I get it. Stevie Y." (laughs). It's a fond memory. To do it in Toronto, and to have my family there, made it special.
On who hit him the hardest in his career:
I would say the strongest guy I ever had to play against was Ken Daneyko. He's a guy I have always respected, and I knew I was in for a long, tiring night whenever I faced him.
He might have been the strongest as far as battling for pucks and battling for position on the ice. He was like a bull. He was always difficult to play against. And because I was in New York for so long and he was in Jersey, we spent many a night battling for position. But I always had so much respect for him.
On some of the best talkers he encountered on the ice:
Glenn Healy was a guy who was really funny; I've known him since my late teens. Between the rivalry with the Islanders and being lucky enough to play with him and win a Stanley Cup with the Rangers, he was always a quick-witted, really sharp, intelligent man.
You get Nick Kypreos and Glenn Healy in a dressing room ... there was many a day when I couldn't wait to get to the room because I knew I'd be laughing so hard, there would be tears going down my cheek. A lot of it had to do with how quick-witted and how much fun those guys were.
I could tell you some stories, but those are best kept in the dressing room because that's the privilege of being in the room. But as I'm saying that, I'm smiling right now, thinking of that journey. Having teammates like that and being able to laugh and enjoy the game you love with guys like that made it that much more fun.
On the player he considers most underrated from his playing days:
I think one of the guys who was recognized as one of the great players of all time, but a guy I thought was so outstanding was Mats Sundin.
It seemed like whenever Toronto needed a big goal, he was there to score it. I know he was a celebrated Leaf, one of the all-time greats, but playing against him, he was such a big guy. He could play at both ends of the rink. He could beat you taking it to the net, he could beat you with his smarts, making a play, killing penalties, power play ... he was such a difficult guy to play against.
I always had a lot of respect for Mats and the way he approached the game, and his work ethic, and everything else.
On the greatest game he ever played:
You're asking the wrong guy (laughs). I honestly don't give it much thought; I don't know if I had a greatest game. Because I was aggressive, as many things that went well in a game, things could easily have gone the other way because of being out of position, or taking a penalty, or missing a hit.
People will come up to me and say, "I loved the way you played!" And I say, "Well, you must have only seen half my games. The other half, I wasn't very good." I can't say there was ever a game that stood out. I was more of a mucker, a grinder, a product of my environment.
On his last NHL game:
I can't even tell you who we played. I was in San Jose, and I guess I should remember that. When I look back, I just think about how lucky I was to play as long as I did, and to play with the people I did. Even to this day, when I get a chance to get out on the ice, I just think about how fortunate I was to play. It isn't something I look back on sadly. When I was done, I was done.
On when he realized he was done:
I think you know your body. And for me, I wasn't a guy who could change his game to a more skilled, cerebral game. I had to play physical. And by the end, after playing close to 1,200 games, my body was basically telling me I was done. I had had back surgery, shoulders, knees, hands, you name it.
For me, it was the recovery. You think you can play your old-style game, but instead of being ready to go the next day, it would take you two or three days to recover - and unfortunately, you had games in between. I quickly realized that I wasn't able to do what I could do in my early 20s - that physical game and that pounding in front of the net and in the corners.
At the end of the year, I found that I was more mentally tired than physically tired, just because of expectations you put on yourself. As you get older, and you're not able to do the things you'd like to do, you quickly understand (it's time). I was completely thrilled to have the opportunity I had. No regrets.
On his favorite story from the Oilers' 1990 Stanley Cup run:
Both Cup teams I played on were so much about family. Not just the family within the locker room, but your extended families: The moms, the dads, the wifes, the fiancees. You shared those moments with those people.
My mom and dad drove down the day of Game 5 (in Boston). I can remember being with (defenseman) Randy Gregg going into the arena and I saw my mom and dad quickly for about five, 10 minutes.
And as we were about to win, with about 10 seconds left in the game, I remember standing on the bench - actually on the bench - looking up into the stands trying to find my mom and dad. I couldn't find them very easily because they were behind one of those yellow posts at the Boston Garden.
After we had won, coming into the dressing room and having my mom and dad in the room, and my dad drinking out of the Cup, and then us going out for a team meal at a restaurant ... and the place was closed down. It was just family - your hockey family and your actual family. It was just terrific. I'll never forget my dad in the kitchen with an apron on, cooking up lobsters and celebrating the Stanley Cup. Those are memories that I love.
On what made Mark Messier one of hockey's greatest leaders:
For me, it's simple: He could lead any way you wanted him to. He would do it because he cared with his heart. He could do it physically. He could stand up and speak in front of the team. He would do it with humility; he wouldn't ask anyone to do something he wasn't willing to do himself.
On top of that, he had such a complete game. He had the ability to beat you with speed, with passing, with shooting, with physicality - even on-the-edge physicality. He was the complete package. And he brought that at the most opportune times. When the chips were down and you needed a big faceoff, a big hit, a big goal, a momentum-changer ... it was always No. 11.
He cared so much. I don't know if I ever played with someone who respected the game and loved the game more than Mark.
Rapid Fire
The best player he ever played with: Let's put it this way: I was spoiled.
The best player he ever played against: Mario Lemieux
In a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Kucherov scored his league-leading 12th goal and recorded the primary assist on Stamkos' fourth as both players extended their season-opening point streaks to 11 games.
Stamkos and Kucherov rank first and second in total points among all players, and life is good for head coach Jon Cooper.
Cooper with a laugh when asked about having 86 and 91: “What’s it like? It’s a huge benefit. They’re exceptional players.” #DETvsTBL
"I've played a decent amount of games in the NHL (843) and its nice to get 300," Kessel said. "I’m just happy to help my team win."
Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins making things happen
The Edmonton Oilers are desperately in need of a scoring boost, and Leon Draisaitl is providing just that since returning from a concussion.
The young forward registered three assists in a big 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars, including the primary helper on defenseman Matt Benning's late third-period game-winner.
TORONTO (AP) Josh Jooris scored twice, Teuvo Teravainen had a three-point night and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Thursday night.
Victor Rask scored midway through the second period to give Carolina the lead and Brock McGinn and Jooris added insurance goals in the third. Elias Lindholm and Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, who ended a two-game losing skid.
Auston Matthews, Zach Hyman and Dominic Moore had the goals for Toronto.
Carolina pulled ahead by taking advantage of a poor clearing effort by Andreas Borgman behind the Toronto net. Teravainen took possession and fed the puck to Rask, who one-timed it past Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen.
McGinn made it a two-goal game by faking a slap shot and snapping the puck over Andersen's right shoulder for his first goal of the season. Jooris capped the scoring by burying a pass from Jeff Skinner into the top corner.
Toronto seemed flat at the start and both teams made plenty of mistakes, missed passes and blew assignments over 60 minutes.
The Hurricanes silenced the home crowd early. Jooris potted his first goal of the season by one-timing a pass from Trevor van Riemsdyk at 2:20 of the opening period.
Teravainen made it a two-goal lead just 33 seconds later. He snapped home a loose puck off the faceoff for his third goal of the campaign.
Toronto halved the lead at 9:19 as Patrick Marleau flipped a pass to Matthews, who was left alone in front. Matthews beat Scott Darling on the glove side for his eighth goal.
Andersen made an all-world glove save on Noah Hanifin later in the stanza. He snared the slapshot from the hash mark despite being prone in the butterfly position.
Carolina scored on its next opportunity, however, as Lindholm tipped in a shot from the point to make it 3-1 at 16:08.
The Maple Leafs pressed in the second period and were rewarded with two quick goals.
Moore flipped in a rebound near the crease at 5:47 and Hyman tied it at 7:11. It was Moore's third goal of the season and the fourth for Hyman.
In the third, McGinn tallied at 10:15 and Jooris scored at 12:19. Carolina outshot Toronto 38-34.
NOTES: Toronto sratched D Connor Carrick, F Eric Fehr and F Josh Leivo. .. Carolina sat D Klas Dahlbeck and F Janne Kuokkanen. ... The Maple Leafs entered play leading the NHL with an average of 4.4 goals per game. ... Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic was in attendance. He grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, just north of Toronto.
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: Host St. Louis on Friday.
Maple Leafs: Host Philadelphia on Saturday to wrap up a three-game homestand.
Affordable young talent is the lifeblood of a salary-cap league. And ensuring their proper development is critical in converting these assets into NHL talent.
As the season's 10-game mark approaches, so too does a key date for general managers: whether their freshmen talent sticks in the big league or if more seasoning in the minors is required.
Here is how the remaining big decisions could shake out:
Here to stay
Mathew Barzal, 16th pick in 2015
The New York Islanders made headlines with their recent demotion of forward Josh Ho-Sang, but fans shouldn't expect a similar announcement about Barzal.
After a brief stint with the team last year before being returned to the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, Barzal appears to be sticking around for good this time. In nine games with the Islanders, Barzal has put together three points and has averaged more than 15 minutes a game in a top-six role.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, 3rd pick in 2016
A surprise pick to stick given his stat line, Dubois was given the good news on Thursday when GM Jarmo Kekalainen informed him he will be spending a little more time with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That was the lone option for Dubois to play pro this season, as the 19-year-old product of the CHL is not eligible for the minors and could only return to the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. With the Blue Jackets, Dubois has posted one goal in nine games, while averaging 12:26 in ice time.
Tyson Jost, 10th pick in 2016
Fans of the Colorado Avalanche got an early showing of Jost last season, when the University of North Dakota product played in the final six games of the season, including a game against the Minnesota Wild which saw Jost notch his first NHL goal.
One year later, and through another six games, Jost has picked up two points. An NHL talent who will grow into a bigger role over time, Jost is a key part of the future in Denver, alongside fellow youngsters Mikko Rantanen, Alexander Kerfoot, and 2017 first-rounder Cale Makar.
Luke Kunin, 15th pick in 2016
A late cut in training camp, Kunin got a second audition with the Wild after the team ran into injury concerns earlier this month. So far, he has made the most of it, as he's tallied two assists in four contests.
After netting 38 points in 35 games with the University of Wisconsin last season, Kunin finished the year in the AHL, where he came up with eight points in 12 games. He is already producing as a pro, and his current trial with the Wild should help him secure a full-time roster spot.
See you soon
Gabriel Carlsson, 29th pick in 2015
It's been difficult for the Blue Jackets to get an accurate read on Carlsson, as the young defenseman has been out with an injury for the past five games.
Still, when Carlsson has been in the lineup, he has yet to show his NHL readiness, as he's recorded just one point. Carlsson's ice-time has declined over four contests, falling to less than 10 minutes in his last appearance. The 20-year-old spent last year in Sweden and could benefit from time in the AHL.
Owen Tippett, 10th pick in 2017
Although he was praised by coach Bob Boughner after his NHL debut earlier this month - a contest in which he finished with a team-leading seven shots - Tippett has been a frequent healthy scratch by the Florida Panthers.
That makes him a prime candidate to return to junior, where he can continue to hone his game with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads. Tippett tallied 44 goals and 31 assists in 60 games in junior last season.
Kailer Yamamoto, 22nd pick in 2017
The Edmonton Oilers face a difficult decision when it comes to the immediate future of Yamamoto.
On a skilled Oilers squad that has struggled to score this season, Yamamoto has been a bright spot, as he helped create three goals through seven games. But banking on the 19-year-old to keep up the offense may be too much too soon. In the meantime, Edmonton has other scoring threats it can turn to while Yamamoto further develops in junior.
San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton has officially moved into a tie for 20th on the NHL's all-time points list.
The 38-year-old collected his second goal of the season against his former club, the Boston Bruins, to pick up his 1,398th point to bring him level with Edmonton Oilers great Jari Kurri.
Thornton originally looked to have accomplished the feat Monday after recording an assist, but a stat change saw the helper removed to bring him back into 21st.
Thornton needs 11 more points to move up the list again where he will match Dale Hawerchuk and his 1,409 points.
The 30-year-old will report to the Chicago Wolves while his agent continues to seek a potential trade for his client, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.
On Wednesday Shipachyov and his camp were given permission by the Golden Knights to seek a potential trade. Shipachyov has played just three games with Vegas this season, tallying just one goal while playing under 11 minutes per game.
Shipachyov - who had previously spent the last nine seasons in the KHL - inked a two-year, $9-million contract with the Golden Knights this offseason.
Jarome Iginla could still don the red and white one last time.
The unrestricted free agent forward was not named to Canada's roster for the Karjala Cup - a pre-Olympic showcase in Finland next month - but could still represent his home country at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.
Seravalli writes:
Iginla, who captured two Olympic gold medals for Team Canada, recently underwent a minor procedure to clean out loose particles in his hip.
It is unclear whether Iginla, now 40, will be invited or has interest in the next step of the evaluation process, which is the Channel One Cup in Moscow from Dec. 12-17.
Team Canada general manager Sean Burke confirmed this past summer that he reached out to Iginla about the possibility of participating if he failed to sign with an NHL club.
The 40-year-old winger recorded 14 goals and 13 assists in 80 games with Colorado and Los Angeles last season.
