# October 2 in Hockey History
October 2 has witnessed several notable achievements across the NHL's modern era, from individual scoring explosions to significant career milestones. The date reflects the league's preseason and regular season transition period, often serving as a stage for players to announce their readiness for the campaign ahead.
Individual Scoring Performances
October 2 has produced remarkable single-game performances that demonstrate the offensive capabilities of elite forwards. Most recently, on October 2, 2023, Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils delivered a dominant preseason display against the New York Islanders, registering three goals and one assist for four points. This performance showcased the offensive weapons at New Jersey's disposal heading into the 2023-24 season.
A similarly explosive evening occurred on October 2, 2010, when the Ottawa Senators faced the New York Rangers. That night became a showcase of balanced offensive depth, as two Senators forwards each recorded three-goal performances. Chris Kelly finished with three goals and zero assists, while teammate Zack Smith contributed three goals and one assist for four points. These dual offensive performances highlighted Ottawa's attacking depth during that preseason period.
Career Milestones
October 2 has also marked significant individual career achievements. In 2009, veteran forward Cory Stillman reached the 400 career assists milestone, a marker representing sustained excellence in playmaking throughout his NHL career. That same year, David Backes achieved his 200th career game, establishing himself as a durable two-way contributor.
The date has witnessed other notable progressions through career thresholds. Phil Kessel reached 200 career points on October 2, 2013, adding to a scoring legacy that would span multiple franchises. Connor Brown achieved 100 career points on October 2, 2019, while Nazem Kadri (drafted by Toronto) marked his 100th career game that same date in 2013.
Earlier milestones from October 2, 1999, included Markus Naslund reaching 100 career goals—a significant achievement for a player who would become a cornerstone of Vancouver Canucks success. Glen Murray also reached 200 career points on that date, while Brad Bombardir registered his 100th career game.
By the Numbers
**3 goals**: Chris Kelly (2010) and Zack Smith (2010) each scored three goals on October 2, 2010—matching the three-goal performance by Jesper Bratt in 2023**400 assists**: Cory Stillman's career assist total when reaching this milestone on October 2, 2009**4 points**: Both Zack Smith (2010) and Jesper Bratt (2023) recorded four-point performances on October 2**100 career games**: Achieved by Nazem Kadri (2013) and Brad Bombardir (1999)**Multiple milestones in 1999**: Four separate career achievements occurred on October 2, 1999, marking it as a particularly significant date for player progression records