Because there were no games Monday night -- the NHL must have been scared away by Halloween -- Joe McDonald gives us his take on the best Tuesday matchups featuring some of the league's best and brightest stars. Consider this a special edition of "Morning, Joe."
McDavid vs. Matthews, 7:30 ET: During the World Cup of Hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews and the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid donned the same sweaters for Team North America. They were two of the most dynamic players during the tournament and both have carried that momentum into the regular season. McDavid, 19, leads the league with 12 points in nine games, and Matthews, 19, has six goals and four assists for 10 points in the first nine games of his NHL career. These two players are similar in that they don't get caught up in the hoopla surrounding them. They're not focused on individual accomplishments or matchups. To them, it's all about the two-point victory and nothing else. Still, these two are so talented, fans need to appreciate the impact Matthews and McDavid will have on this game for a long time. The rivalry begins Tuesday night, when the Leafs (2-4-3) host the Oilers (7-2-0).
Ovechkin vs. Laine, 8 ET: The Winnipeg Jets' Patrik Laine will face his childhood idol when the Jets (4-5-0) host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (5-2-1) in the first game of a home-and-home set Tuesday at MTS Centre. Laine, 18, was the second overall pick in June, and Ovechkin, 31, was the No. 1 selection in 2004. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound Laine is off to a strong start, with six goals and two assists for eight points in nine games. To start his NHL career, the 6-foot-3, 239-pound Ovechkin had six goals and four assists for 10 points in his first nine games, back in 2004-05. Laine's confidence is off the charts. Any time there's attention on a matchup like this, Laine reaches another level. During his first game against the Maple Leafs' Matthews, who went first overall in June, Laine scored a hat trick, including a goal in overtime to lead the Jets to a 5-4 win. Laine won't be overwhelmed when playing against Ovechkin, either. There's so much to like about Laine's game, which is why he will win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.
Subban vs. MacKinnon, 9 ET: The Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon is an intriguing player. He's only 21, yet this is his fourth season in the NHL. On Tuesday, the Avalanche (4-3-0) host P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators (2-5-1). MacKinnon has one goal and five assists for six points in seven games for Colorado. The No. 1 overall pick in 2013 spent the summer working out with fellow Nova Scotian and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. This is the season MacKinnon needs to become an elite player, and the Avalanche are depending on him to do so. For Subban, the 27-year-old defenseman is adjusting well to his new surroundings in Nashville. After the offseason trade by the Montreal Canadiens for veteran blueliner Shea Weber, Subban has two goals and three assists for five points in eight games. If his personality didn't fit with the Canadiens, there doesn't seem to be any issues in the early going in Nashville for Subban. His energy and tireless work hasn't translated into too many wins, but they will come.