Buffalo Sabres 5-3 Florida Panthers
The Buffalo Sabres (3-3-0) have high expectations for the first time in a long time this season, but after a 2-3-0 start, pressure was mounting on them as they took on the Florida Panthers (2-2-2).
At home against the defending Champions, the Sabres offence finally clicked, and with Peyton Krebs, Owen Power and Jack Quinn all tallying two assists, the team got it done through their balance and depth.
Goaltending still presents an issue in Buffalo, as the team saw Colten Ellis allow two goals on just nine shots before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stepped up in relief, keeping the tough Panthers at bay long enough to secure the victory.
As for the Panthers, the team's inconsistent start to the year continued, and while Sam Reinhart impressed with two goals, it was another tough night for Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, allowing a combined 5 goals on 31 shots.
Ottawa Senators 4-1 New Jersey Devils
The Ottawa Senators (5-1-0) have been arguably the NHL's hottest team early in the year, and while they're dealing with some absences, this is a team that can get victories in many different ways.
That continued on Monday when they battled the New Jersey Devils (2-3-0), and while things were tight after 1 period, the Senators pulled away, with two points to Tim Stutzle leading the team to four goals over the next two periods.
Unfortunately for the Devils, it's another very slow start, and while they managed a late goal through Arseni Gritsyuk, it was a 29-save outing from Linus Ullmark that led the Senators to another dominant victory, this time by a 4-1 margin on the road.
Minnesota Wild 4-2 Vegas Golden Knights
The Minnesota Wild (4-1-1) and Vegas Golden Knights (5-2-0) are expected to both be Stanley Cup contenders in the West this season, and on a quiet Monday in the NHL, the two put on a fantastic battle that showed both their strengths and some of their weaknesses.
However, it was the Wild that came out on top, with two assists to star defenseman Quinn Hughes and four different goal scorers leading the way for this huge win at home, keeping them at 2-0-0 on home ice this year.
For the Golden Knights, there wasn't much in the way of offence, as Jesper Wallstedt made 21 saves for Minnesota, and while William Karlsson and Rasmus Andersson found the back of the net, it just wasn't enough to get the job done here.