You Don't Know SportsOpen in You Don't Know Sports ⇢
Hockey (NHL) · Stanley Cup · published 2026-10-02T00:00:00+00:00 · via The Hockey Writers

NHL Historical Moments from October 2

Image via The Hockey Writers
Image via The Hockey Writers

The article revisits notable NHL events from October 2, including Ray Bourque passing Paul Coffey for the most career goals by a defenseman in 1999. It also recalls the Atlanta Thrashers' first regular-season game that same night and the naming of captains for Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux. Bourque later won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001 after being traded from Boston.

Expanded Detail

EXPANDED:

On October 2, 1999, Ray Bourque’s second-period goal in Boston’s opener against Carolina was his 386th, moving him past Paul Coffey among defensemen. He added nine Bruins goals before a March 2000 trade to Colorado, then won the Stanley Cup in 2001 and retired. That same night, Atlanta’s first regular-season game drew over 18,000 fans, but New Jersey won 4–1; Kelly Buchberger scored Atlanta’s lone goal.

Also on this date, Vancouver named Mark Messier captain in 1997, replacing

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at The Hockey Writers →
Related stories
A Look Back at Key Hockey Moments From Sept. 26 · International Hockey
Sept. 24 Marks Summit Series Comeback, Hall of Fame Induction, and More · International Hockey
NHL Milestones and Hall Inductions from September 25 · Stanley Cup
This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Today in Hockey History: Oct. 2.” Browse more stories.