We're back for a brand new NHL season, with the first puck drop being today. While it may struggle to match some of last year's surprises, the attempt to write new stories starts in...
Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Frederik Andersen are the goalies. Montreal started in the first period with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, assisted by Max Domi and Paul Byron. Toronto tied it on an Auston Matthews goal, via Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri on the power play. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period with a John Tavares goal, coming off of Kadri and Travis Dermott. The Canadiens retied it on an Andrew Shaw power play goal, powered by Domi and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Toronto won 3-2 in overtime with another Matthews goal, courtesy of Patrick Marleau and Jake Gardiner. The three stars were Matthews, Kadri, and Domi.
Down in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Braden Holtby tend the twines. Washington opened in the first period with a T.J. Oshie goal, assisted by Nicklas Backstrom and Matt Niskanen. The Capitals added on with an unassisted Evgeny Kuznetsov power play goal. Washington extended the lead as Alex Ovechkin scored a power play goal in the second period, with the help of Backstrom and Oshie. The Capitals padded the lead on a Nic Dowd goal, via Nathan Walker and Devante Smith-Pelly. Washington chased Rask with a Kuznetsov power play goal, his second of the game, with helpers from John Carlson and the goalie Holtby. Jaroslav Halak came on in relief. The Capitals continued with a Carlson power play goal, made possible by Ovechkin and Backstrom, the latter earning a sock trick. Washington struck again in the third period on a Lars Eller goal, guided in by Chandler Stephenson and Brooks Orpik. This stood for a 7-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Kuznetsov, Backstrom, and Oshie, while Ovechkin, Carlson, and Holtby (25 save shutout) get honorable mentions.
Out west, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Calgary Flames. Mike Smith and Jacob Markstrom are in the creases. Vancouver began in the first period with an Elias Pettersson goal, made possible by Loui Eriksson and Nikolay Goldobin. The Canucks added on in the third period with a Goldobin goal, coming off of Pettersson and Eriksson. Vancouver extended the lead as Brendan Leipsic scored, thanks to Jay Beagle and Erik Gudbranson. Calgary got on the board with a Matthew Tkachuk goal, assisted by Austin Czarnik and Noah Hanifin. The Canucks replied with a Jake Virtanen goal, passed from Brandon Sutter and Christopher Tanev. The Flames replied with a Sean Monahan goal, courtesy of Johnny Gaudreau and James Neal. Vancouver iced it at 5-2 with a Tyler Motte empty net goal, set up by Markus Granlund. The three stars were Pettersson, Goldobin, and Eriksson.
Finally, opening day ends with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Martin Jones are the masked men. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Max Comtois goal, fueled by Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg. San Jose tied it on an Evander Kane goal, coming off of Justin Braun. The Sharks took the lead in the second period on a Tomas Hertl shorthanded goal, going in unassisted. The Ducks tied it again with a Rickard Rakell power play goal, powered by Silfverberg and Ryan Getzlaf. Anaheim took the lead in the third period with a Brandon Montour goal, made possible by Rakell and Getzlaf. The Ducks added on with a Henrique power play goal, with helpers from Silfverberg, who got a sock trick, and Rakell. Anaheim capped it at 5-2 with a Carter Rowney empty net goal, set up by Ben Street and Kiefer Sherwood. The three stars belonged to Rakell, Silfverberg, and Henrique, while Getzlaf gets an honorable mention.
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