One minor injury almost caused a more significant one for Ryan McDonagh.

The New York Rangers' defenseman banged his head into the boards while skating off the ice after being momentarily blinded by a stick to the face Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues.

McDonagh left briefly after the incident but returned before the end of the first period.

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Henrik Lundqvist is still the king.

The New York Rangers' royalty proved as much by making a sensational breakaway save on St. Louis Blues forward Robby Fabbri on Tuesday night.

Lundqvist's save helped his club retain its 2-0 lead midway through the first period.

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Auston Matthews' popularity is second to none.

More people bought the Toronto Maple Leafs' rookie sensation's jersey than that of any other player in the month of October, the NHL announced Tuesday night.

Here's the full list:

Matthews' feat is especially impressive considering his jersey wasn't even available for two whole days after his historic four-goal NHL debut Oct. 12 against the Ottawa Senators.

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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray will make his season debut on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old will be between the pipes for the first time this season - since breaking his hand while backstopping Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey last month - when the Penguins take on the Anaheim Ducks, the team confirmed.

Murray was medically cleared and returned to serve as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup last week. The Penguins have collected wins in three straight games, even with Fleury currently riding a subpar 3.09 GAA and .909 save percentage.

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Rickard Rakell will likely play for the first time this season Tuesday night.

The Anaheim Ducks forward told reporters he's ready to face the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center, according to Kyle Shohara of the club's official website.

Rakell missed Ducks' training camp and the first nine games this season due to both a contract impasse and health concerns.

He has been practicing with the Ducks for the last week after clearing up visa issues that arose after he signed a six-year contract extension with Anaheim on Oct. 14.

The 23-year-old was hospitalized in September with a stomach virus that resulted from appendix surgery in March.

Rakell scored 20 goals in his second full season with Anaheim in 2015-16.

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Alex Ovechkin, San Jose Sharks fan?

Such appears to have been the case for the Washington Capitals superstar, who disclosed as much in advance of Tuesday's game in Winnipeg.

Ovechkin also mentioned his favorite player was Owen Nolan.

Unfortunately for Ovi, the Sharks came nowhere near selecting him at the 2004 NHL Draft. Washington snagged him with the first overall pick, while the Sharks didn't make a selection until 22, with Lukas Kaspar getting the call.

The reason for such reflection?

Never leave us, Ovi.

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A Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been named the NHL's rookie of the month for October, but not the one who scored four goals on opening night.

The distinction instead goes to William Nylander, whose four goals and seven assists in nine games topped the six goals and four assists recorded by teammate Auston Matthews in the same span.

Nylander leads all rookies in assists and total points, and his 31 shots on goal rank second only to Matthews. Only Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Jimmy Vesey have recorded more goals.

Drafted eighth overall by Toronto in 2014, Nylander scored six goals and added seven assists in 22 games for the Maple Leafs last season.

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While the rest of the NHL waits for the Edmonton Oilers to come crashing down from their perch atop the Western Conference, Las Vegas isn't willing to take chances.

Edmonton is now listed at 10-1 to lift the Stanley Cup, which is only fractionally behind the favored Pittsburgh Penguins, and on par with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Washington Capitals.

Here are the complete odds courtesy of Bodog:

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Craig Anderson will be in net again Tuesday night as the Ottawa Senators host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Anderson is coming off an exceptional, and incredibly emotional, 37-save shutout of the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night. The start - his second consecutive shutout - came after his wife Nicholle gave him her blessing to play just days after she was diagnosed with cancer.

It's the Senators' first home game since the Andersons learned of Nicholle's diagnosis.

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Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber, and Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Marchessault were named the NHL's three stars for the month of October on Tuesday.

McDavid leads the NHL in total points through the first few weeks of the season, recording five goals and seven assists for an Oilers team that sits first in the Western Conference and second overall in the league standings.

Weber made a good impression with his new club by leading all defensemen with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in nine games while helping the Canadiens get off to a first-place start with a record of 8-0-1.

The surprising name here, of course, is third star Marchessault, who shares the league lead with six goals and is tied for third overall with 11 points through nine games with the Panthers.

Marchessault recorded a career-high 18 points in 45 games with Tampa Bay last season.

Not bad for a player making only $750,000 this season.

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