This is the first big day of the new season, with nine games to go through. We begin with...
The Buffalo Sabres hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya and Robin Lehner are unheralded goalies. Montreal led off in the first period with a Brendan Gallagher goal, assisted by Max Pacioretty. The Canadiens added on in the second period on a Torrey Mitchell goal, helped along by Paul Byron and Phillip Danault. Buffalo got on the board with a Matt Moulson power play goal in the third period, powered by Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen. Montreal replied on a Gallagher goal, via Shea Weber and Alex Galchenyuk. The Canadiens iced it at 4-1 with an Andrew Shaw goal, passed from Daniel Carr and David Desharnais. The three stars went to Gallagher, Montoya (30 for 31 in saves), and Mitchell.
In New York City, the Rangers welcome cross-town rivals in the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Henrik Lundqvist guard the cages. The Rangers opened in the first period with a Michael Grabner goal, assisted by Brandon Pirri and Jesper Fast. The Rangers added on in the second period on a Mats Zuccarello goal, coming off of Brady Skjei and Mika Zibanejad. The Islanders got on the board in the third period with a Nick Leddy goal, made possible by Casey Cizikas and Travis Hamonic. The Islanders tied it with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, guided in by Nikolay Kulemin and Cizikas. The Rangers took the lead again with a Chris Kreider goal, via Pavel Buchnevich and Nick Holden. The Rangers extended the lead as Pirri scored a power play goal, powered by Kreider and Zibanejad. The Rangers padded the lead on a J.T. Miller empty net goal, set up by Kevin Hayes. The Islanders pulled back with a Brock Nelson goal, with assists provided by Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier. The game ended at 5-3, with the three stars handed to Pirri, Kreider, and Zibanejad, while Cizikas gets an honorable mention.
West to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets bring in the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Sergei Bobrovsky are in the blue paint. Columbus began in the first period with an Alexander Wennberg goal, coming off of Seth Jones and Zachary Werenski. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson power play goal, powered by Nick Foligno and Wennberg. Boston got on the board in the second period with a David Pastrnak goal, via Brad Marchand. Columbus answered on a Jones goal, made possible by Brandon Saad and Foligno. The Bruins pulled back with a David Backes goal, fueled by Zdeno Chara and Marchand. Boston tied it with another Backes goal, with helpers from Pastrnak and Marchand, who got a sock trick. The Bruins extended the lead as Marchand scored in the third period, with the help of Pastrnak and Backes. Boston padded the lead with a Marchand goal, his second of the game, with a lone assist by Brandon Carlo. The Bruins iced it at 6-3 with a Pastrnak empty net goal, set up by David Krejci and Ryan Spooner. The three stars belonged to Marchand, Backes, and Pastrnak, while Wennberg, Jones, and Foligno get the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Ben Bishop are the masked men. Detroit started in the first period with a Thomas Vanek power play goal, powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Frans Nielsen. The Red Wings added on with another Vanek goal, with a lone assist by Gustav Nyquist. Tampa Bay got on the board with a power play goal by Jonathan Drouin, with helpers from Alex Killorn and Victor Hedman. Detroit shot back on a Nielsen goal, assisted by Mike Green and Dylan Larkin. The Lightning answered with an unassisted goal by Cedric Paquette. Tampa Bay tied it in the third period on a Brian Boyle goal, courtesy of Paquette. The Lightning gained the lead with a Tyler Johnson power play goal, guided in by Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Killorn scored a power play goal, thanks to Drouin and Hedman. The Red Wings countered with a Danny DeKeyser goal, passed from Green and Darren Helm. The Lightning iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Valtteri Filppula, going in unassisted. The three stars were given to Paquette, Drouin, and Vanek, while Killorn, Nielsen, Hedman, and Green get the honorable mentions.
Staying in the state, the Florida Panthers welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo protect the nets. Florida struck first in the first period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, assisted by Aleksander Barkov and Alex Petrovic. New Jersey tied it on a P.A. Parenteau goal, via Yohann Auvitu and Pavel Zacha. The Panthers won 2-1 in overtime on a Barkov goal, with a lone assist by Michael Matheson. The three stars were awarded to Barkov, Luongo (23 for 24 in saves), and Schneider (32 for 34 in saves).
Back north to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Marc-Andre Fleury are the masked men. Washington was first to score in the first period with an Andre Burakovsky goal, passed from Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on a Patric Hornqvist power play goal, powered by Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins took the lead on a Malkin goal, assisted by Conor Sheary. The Capitals retied it in the third period with a Burakovsky goal, his second of the game, made possible by Backstrom and Matt Niskanen. The tie went to a shootout, where Malkin, Letang, and Phil Kessel outlasted T.J. Oshie and Backstrom for a 3-2 win. The three stars went to Malkin, Burakovsky, and Letang, while Backstrom gets an honorable mention.
Southwest to St. Louis, where the Blues host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jake Allen man the nets. St. Louis opened in the first period with an Alexander Steen goal, made possible by Robby Fabbri and Paul Stastny. Minnesota tied it on a Ryan Suter goal in the second period, going in unassisted. The Blues took the lead back with a Nail Yakupov goal, guided in by Colton Parayko and Patrik Berglund. St. Louis added on in the third period with a Magnus Paajarvi goal, fueled by Yakupov and Berglund. The Wild got one back with a Charlie Coyle goal, passed from Jason Zucker and Zac Dalpe. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Yakupov, Paajarvi, and Berglund.
Up in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Connor Hellebuyck are set to start in goal. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Shawn Matthias goal, guided in by Toby Enstrom and Bryan Little. Carolina tied it on a Jeff Skinner goal, fueled by Lee Stempniak. The Hurricanes took the lead in the second period on a Stempniak power play goal, powered by Noah Hanifin and Skinner. Carolina added on with an unassisted goal by Jordan Staal. The Hurricanes extended the lead in the third period as Victor Rask scored a power play goal, thanks to Justin Faulk and Sebastian Aho. The Jets got one back with a shorthanded and unassisted Blake Wheeler goal. Winnipeg got closer with a Patrik Laine power play goal, with assists provided by Enstrom and Kyle Connor. The Jets tied it on a Mathieu Perreault goal, passed from Wheeler and Laine. Winnipeg won 5-4 in overtime on a Mark Scheifele goal, set up Wheeler. The three stars were Wheeler, Laine, and Enstrom, while Skinner and Stempniak get the honorable mentions.
Finally, the Dallas Stars bring in the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Antti Niemi are between the posts. Dallas struck first in the first period with a Stephen Johns goal, via Patrick Eaves and Jamie Benn. Anaheim tied it on an Andrew Cogliano shorthanded goal, going in unassisted. The Stars retook the lead in the second period with a Lauri Korpikoski goal, fueled by Devin Shore and Dan Hamhuis. The Ducks retied it on a Cogliano goal, coming off of Ryan Kelser and Jakob Silfverberg in the third period. Dallas retook the lead with an Antoine Roussel goal, made possible by Adam Cracknell and Jordie Benn. The Stars iced it at 4-2 with a Cracknell goal, assisted by Radek Faksa and Roussel. The three stars were given to Cracknell, Roussel, and Cogliano.
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