NHL Weekly Roundup: Oct 12 to Oct 18
Vegas leads the Western Conference and Carolina leads the East after the NHL's second full week of the 2026-27 season, with Philadelphia finally winning and the Los Angeles Kings still searching for a first victory.
Overview
This roundup covers the NHL week of Monday, Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, using results and standings through Saturday, Oct. 17. It is meant for fans who want to catch up quickly on who leads each conference, which teams are streaking and which are struggling. Teams have played between six and ten games so far, so the standings are still very early.
At a glance
- Vegas leads the Western Conference with 16 points after an 8-2-0 start.
- Carolina leads the Eastern Conference with 15 points and won seven straight games through Oct. 17.
- Philadelphia earned its first win of the season on Saturday after an 0-6-3 start.
- The Los Angeles Kings are winless at 0-4-2.
- Boston has won five games in a row.
League snapshot
Standings below are through games played Saturday, Oct. 17.
Eastern Conference: Carolina (7-1-1, 15 points) holds the top spot, followed by Boston (14 points) and the New York Rangers (13 points). Philadelphia sits last in the conference at 1-6-3.
Western Conference: Vegas (8-2-0, 16 points) leads, ahead of Edmonton (13 points) and Utah (12 points). Calgary and Los Angeles are at the bottom with two points each.
Notable results
- Carolina 3, Winnipeg 2 (Saturday): Nikolaj Ehlers scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, giving the Hurricanes their seventh consecutive victory through Oct. 17.
- Vegas 6, Pittsburgh 2 (Saturday): Mark Stone had three points in the first period as the Golden Knights scored six goals for the second straight game. Pittsburgh has lost three in a row and is 3-5-1.
- Boston 4, Los Angeles 1 (Saturday): The Bruins won their fifth straight, while the Kings fell to 0-4-2.
- Philadelphia 3, Ottawa 1 (Saturday): The Flyers ended an 0-6-3 start with their first win of the season.
- Injury news: New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
What to watch next week
The league's full schedule for the week of Oct. 19 is available on NHL.com. Fans may want to follow whether Carolina and Vegas can hold their conference leads, whether Philadelphia can build on its first win, and whether Los Angeles can earn its first victory.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the Western Conference?
Vegas leads the West with 16 points and an 8-2-0 record through games played Oct. 17.
Who leads the Eastern Conference?
Carolina leads the East with a 7-1-1 record and 15 points, and the Hurricanes had won seven games in a row through Oct. 17.
Which NHL teams have not yet won this season?
Through Oct. 17, the Los Angeles Kings are the winless team at 0-4-2. Philadelphia won its first game on Oct. 17.
Who is out for the season?
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.