McDavid and Simmonds both capped three-goal nights with empty-netters Wednesday, while Ovechkin and Saad pulled off the feat Thursday in their respective openers.
The last time four hat tricks were notched in each of the players' opening games in the same season, it was accomplished by Harry Hyland of the Montreal Wanderers, Joe Malone of the Montreal Canadiens, Cy Denneny of the Ottawa Senators, and Reg Noble of the Toronto Arenas back in that 1917-18 campaign.
The Washington Capitals captain scored three third-period goals against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday to record his 18th career hat trick.
With the trick, Ovechkin is now up to 561 tallies for his career, passing Guy Lafleur and tying Mike Modano for 24th on the all-time goals list.
He also becomes the second Capitals player in history to score a hat trick in a season-opening game, joining Mikhail Grabovski, according to NHL Public Relations.
Ovechkin would cap off the night with another goal in the shootout.
Even former NHL tough guys can get emotional when the moment calls for it.
Louie DeBrusk, father of Boston Bruins rookie Jake and a veteran of more than 400 NHL games himself, teared up when his son notched the first goal of his career Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
It was a big night for Bruins rookies and their parents, as defenseman Charlie McAvoy buried his first NHL goal to the delight of his mom and dad about 10 minutes later.
Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel gave a quick reminder just why he deserves to be paid top dollar in this league, setting up Jason Pominville with a sweet saucer pass for an easy one-timer goal.
The assist was Eichel's first point of the 2017-18 season. Meanwhile, Pominville's goal was his second of the night coming in his first regular season game with the Sabres since 2013.
In Hasek-like form, Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk flopped onto his back to make an acrobatic save with his arm Thursday, robbing Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist on a breakaway. Here's a closer look:
Backes will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, but the ailment is expected to keep him out longer.
The 33-year-old is entering the second year of a five-year, $30-million contract and is coming off his first season with the Bruins in which he scored 17 goals and 38 points in 74 games.
One day after Connor McDavid made franchise history with an opening-night hat trick against the Calgary Flames, one of the all-time greats said he believes the Edmonton Oilers superstar can break Wayne Gretzky's record for goals in a season.
"McDavid is just too good, man," Flames forward Jaromir Jagr told reporters Thursday, via TSN. "If he would learn how to score on breakaways a little more, I think he would score 150 (goals) a season. To score 100 for him, it's possible. He scored three and had another three breakaways (Wednesday night), so I've never seen anything like that in my life, somebody dominating like that."
Jagr believes the modern game and its emphasis on quickness is ideal for McDavid and his uncanny wheels.
"With his speed, in this game right now when you can't hold anyone up, it's very dangerous," Jagr said. "Probably Wayne and Mario (Lemieux) were the same way, but you could grab them (and) hold them with the stick. Right now, (these) rules are just perfect (for) him, so I wouldn't be surprised if some day he scored 100 goals and (broke) the record. It is possible."
Gretzky holds the all-time record with 92 goals in a single season, a feat he accomplished back in 1981-82.
McDavid potted 30 goals in his first full campaign in 2016-17, adding 70 assists to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point producer, and later winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.
The 20-year-old notched 44 goals and 120 points in his final season with the OHL's Erie Otters in 2014-15.
The Anaheim Ducks are starting 2017-18 with their wings clipped.
Head coach Randy Carlyle announced Ryan Getzlaf will not be able to suit up for Thursday's season opener against the Arizona Coyotes as a result of a lower-body injury.
As such, Anaheim takes an early lead in a dubious category:
RC confirmed that Ryan Getzlaf (lower body) is out tonight. Ducks grab league lead in man-games lost.
At last official word, the Ducks are hopeful Kesler can return from hip injury by the holiday break in December, while Lindholm and Vatanen should play at some point in November. All three represent important pieces for the reigning Pacific Division champions.
The other two aren't expected to be out long term, but are no less integral to the team's success. Eaves - who scored 33 goals last season between Dallas and Anaheim - was a major trade-deadline addition and was signed to a three-year contract in the offseason with a view to boosting the offense.
Miller, meanwhile, was signed as a free agent to spell John Gibson in net. Reto Berra steps into that role in his absence, meaning Gibson may have to carry a heavier load than necessary right out of the gate.
Anaheim has the depth on the blue line to survive, but its forward ranks look pretty thin without Getzlaf, Kesler, and Eaves:
Playoff spots and championships obviously aren't clinched in October, but teams can ill afford to get off to a rocky start in a league that boasts a fairly level playing field.
The Alberta teams are chomping at the bit to hunt the Ducks, and Anaheim's California neighbors will need all the help they can get to stay in a playoff picture likely to be loaded with Central Division clubs.
If these Ducks stay grounded for too long, all bets are off in the Pacific.
The Anaheim Ducks are starting 2017-18 with their wings clipped.
Head coach Randy Carlyle announced Ryan Getzlaf will not be able to suit up for Thursday's season opener against the Arizona Coyotes as a result of a lower-body injury.
As such, Anaheim takes an early lead in a dubious category:
RC confirmed that Ryan Getzlaf (lower body) is out tonight. Ducks grab league lead in man-games lost.
At last official word, the Ducks are hopeful Kesler can return from hip injury by the holiday break in December, while Lindholm and Vatanen should play at some point in November. All three represent important pieces for the reigning Pacific Division champions.
The other two aren't expected to be out long term, but are no less integral to the team's success. Eaves - who scored 33 goals last season between Dallas and Anaheim - was a major trade-deadline addition and was signed to a three-year contract in the offseason with a view to boosting the offense.
Miller, meanwhile, was signed as a free agent to spell John Gibson in net. Reto Berra steps into that role in his absence, meaning Gibson may have to carry a heavier load than necessary right out of the gate.
Anaheim has the depth on the blue line to survive, but its forward ranks look pretty thin without Getzlaf, Kesler, and Eaves:
Playoff spots and championships obviously aren't clinched in October, but teams can ill afford to get off to a rocky start in a league that boasts a fairly level playing field.
The Alberta teams are chomping at the bit to hunt the Ducks, and Anaheim's California neighbors will need all the help they can get to stay in a playoff picture likely to be loaded with Central Division clubs.
If these Ducks stay grounded for too long, all bets are off in the Pacific.
