What do you need to know about last night's big stories? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best.
McDavid-Matthews rematch delivered: You just knew the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews would rise to the occasion in their second career game against each other. Matthews scored his 10th goal of the season in the Maple Leafs 4-2 victory Tuesday night, giving him four goals and one assist in the past three games. It was obvious he was jacked to face McDavid again because he celebrated his goal like he had just won the Stanley Cup. Matthews is locked in. At the opposite end of the ice, it's amazing to see McDavid's off-the-charts speed wreak havoc on opponents. He had a goal and an assist Tuesday, extending his own point-scoring streak to six games (six goals and six assists), and has 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 24 games this season. It shouldn't go unnoticed that he's enjoying this type of success with big Milan Lucic as a linemate. It was a brilliant move by Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli to sign Lucic as a free agent during the offseason to protect the organization's top asset. His presence adds an entirely different aspect -- much-needed space -- to McDavid's game.
Eichel boosts Buffalo: Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel makes everyone around him better. The 20-year-old forward and No. 2 pick in 2015 missed the first 21 games this season because of a high-ankle sprain. He returned to the lineup, scored a goal and added an assist to help the Sabres to a 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. His presence brings calm both on and off the ice to the Sabres. His hockey sense, ability and speed adds a dynamic that the team was missing while he was out. Eichel also adds balance to the lineup and allows his teammates to be successful. Case in point: Ryan O'Reilly scored twice against the Senators because he was in a position to capitalize, created by attention being paid to Eichel. Eichel's linemate Sam Reinhart scored his fifth goal of the season, too. It was evident that the Sabres played with more confidence with their budding superstar back in the lineup.
Shaw goes off: Sure, Montreal Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw has crossed the line in the past. He deserved the suspension he received for what he said in last season's playoff series between the Blackhawks and Blues. But from a pure hockey standpoint, the passionate and relentless Shaw is the type of player I want on my team. The two-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago who was traded to Montreal in June is the type of player you hate to play against. In Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Shaw pulled a nutty in the final minute. The Canadiens were down two when Shaw scored his fifth goal of the season at the 18-minute mark of the third period. However, when he was penalized for hooking at 19:32, he lost his mind in the penalty box, screaming expletives at the referee and waving his stick over the glass before snapping it in half. He was given a misconduct and escorted off the ice. This agitating presence adds something that the Canadiens have been missing, and his experience will prove crucial in the playoffs.