Nearly four months after the end of the last Stanley Cup, the NHL is back, and I am as well. I will provide the same level of coverage as last year, with the occasional league-wide opinion piece when I have the time. I hope to be featured regularly on Puck Daddy's Headlines segment when I do such pieces. Today's opening nine schedule features four games, beginning with...
The Ottawa Senators hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Craig Anderson are the goalies. Toronto opened in the first period with an Auston Matthews goal, via Zach Hyman and William Nylander. Ottawa tied it on a Bobby Ryan goal, coming off of Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith. The Senators pulled ahead on a Karlsson goal, assisted by Derick Brassard and Ryan. The Maple Leafs tied it on Matthews' second goal of the game, going in unassisted. Toronto regained the lead in the second period when Matthews finished his hat trick, with a lone assist by Morgan Rielly. Ottawa tied it again on an unassisted goal by Brassard. The Maple Leafs pulled ahead again with Matthews' fourth of the game, guided in by Nylander and Jake Gardiner. The Senators tied it again in the third period with a Kyle Turris goal in the third period, made possible by Mark Stone. Ottawa won 5-4 with Turris' second of the game in overtime, with helpers from Stone and Karlsson. The three stars were Matthews, Turris, and Karlsson, while Ryan, Brassard, Nylander, and Stone.
Stateside, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Corey Crawford guard the cages. Chicago led off in the first period with a Richard Panik power play goal, powered by Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. St. Louis tied it on a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal in the second period, with assists provided by Alex Pietrangelo and Alexander Steen. The Blackhawks took the lead on a Ryan Hartman goal, fueled by Tyler Motte and Marcus Kruger. The Blues tied it again on a Vladimir Tarasenko power play goal, coming off of Paul Stastny and Shattenkirk. St. Louis took the lead in the third period with a Stastny goal, via Tarasenko and Shattenkirk on the power play. The Blues added on with a Tarasenko goal, his second of the game, an empty net goal set up by Stastny and Steen. St. Louis iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Scottie Upshall, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Tarasenko, Shattenkirk, and Stastny, while Steen gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Edmonton, with the Oilers bringing in the Calgary Flames. Brian Elliott and Cam Talbot are the goalies. Edmonton started in the first period with a Patrick Maroon goal, assisted by Leon Draisaitl. Calgary tied it with an Alex Chiasson goal, passed from Matt Stajan and Lance Bouma. The Oilers retook the lead on a Tyler Pitlick goal, fueled by Adam Larsson and Kris Russell. Edmonton added on with a Zack Kassian goal, made possible by Oscar Klefbom and Connor McDavid. The Flames pulled back with a Troy Brouwer shorthanded goal, going in unassisted in the second period. Calgary tied it on a shorthanded Michael Frolik goal, set up by Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano. The Oilers gained the lead on a McDavid goal, coming off of Andrej Sekera and Russell. Edmonton extended the lead on a McDavid penalty shot goal, after a hook from Dennis Wideman. The Oilers padded the lead on an unassisted Jesse Puljujarvi power play goal in the third period. The Flames got one back with a Wideman power play goal, powered by T.J. Brodie and Backlund. Edmonton iced it at 7-4 with a Jordan Eberle empty net goal, with a lone assist by Darnell Nurse. The three stars belonged to McDavid, Russell, and Backlund.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones protect the nets. Los Angeles began in the first period with a Tyler Toffoli power play goal, powered by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. San Jose tied it on a Logan Couture power play goal, helped along by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Quick came out with an injury at the first intermission, and Jeff Zatkoff relieved him. The Sharks took the lead with a third period Brent Burns goal, made possible by Joonas Donskoi and Couture. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars given to Couture, Burns, and Jones (21 for 22 in saves).
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