September 20 in Hockey

# September 20 in Hockey History

A Pattern of Excellence in Preseason Play

September 20 has witnessed rare displays of offensive versatility in the NHL, with two notable five-point performances occurring exactly one year apart during the preseason. These performances underscore how individual excellence can manifest during the early stages of the professional hockey calendar, when teams are evaluating roster composition and player chemistry.

The 2018 Performance: Ty Rattie's Display

In 2018, Ty Rattie recorded a five-point performance, accumulating 2 goals and 3 assists during preseason play. Rattie, a St. Louis Blues draft pick who would go on to play for the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers, demonstrated the type of offensive production that catches the attention of coaching staffs during evaluation periods. The performance occurred as part of the broader Oilers preseason slate, with coverage of the Edmonton-Winnipeg matchup providing context for the day's action.

This five-point output reflected the caliber of performance that scouts and analytics teams track during preseason exhibitions. While preseason statistics carry less weight than regular-season data, they provide meaningful insight into player preparation, lineup combinations, and potential roster impact heading into the competitive season.

The 2017 Performance: Jake Guentzel's Assist-Heavy Game

One year prior, on September 20, 2017, Jake Guentzel—drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins—recorded his own five-point night with an assists-heavy distribution: 1 goal and 4 assists. Guentzel, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Tampa Bay Lightning during his career, showcased the playmaking ability that would characterize much of his professional trajectory. His performance coincided with Pittsburgh's preseason schedule, which included a Detroit matchup covered in the contemporary recap.

Guentzel's distribution—one goal and four assists—emphasizes a different dimension of five-point performance compared to Rattie's two-goal contribution. The assist-heavy approach reflects a facilitating role, where a player demonstrates vision and positioning to create scoring opportunities for linemates rather than capitalizing on offensive chances independently.

Analyzing the Pattern

The occurrence of two five-point performances exactly 365 days apart is notable from a historical perspective. While preseason play occurs under reduced competitive conditions compared to regular-season contests, such performances indicate periods when individual players achieve exceptional rhythm and chemistry with their linemates. Both occurrences took place during late September preseason activities, when teams were finalizing roster decisions before opening night.

These performances also illustrate the diversity of how players accumulate five-point nights. Rattie's two-goal, three-assist distribution versus Guentzel's one-goal, four-assist approach demonstrates that elite offensive performances can be constructed through different contributions—pure scoring output versus facilitation-based excellence.

By the Numbers