The first Saturday of the season loads up the schedule with 14 games, including two matinees. First up...
The Ottawa Senators welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Anton Forsberg are the goalies. Ottawa led off in the first period with a Jakob Chychrun goal, via Zack MacEwen and Ridly Greig. The Senators added on with a Chychrun power play goal, his second of the game powered by Vladimir Tarasenko and Jake Sanderson. Philadelphia got on the board with a Travis Konecny power play goal, his third of the season, with assists provided by Tyson Foerster and Travis Sanheim. Ottawa replied in the second period on a Sanderson power play goal, helped along by Tarasenko and Chychrun. The Flyers got one back with a Cam York goal, passed from Konecny and Sean Walker. The Senators shot back with a Brady Tkachuk goal, fueled by Claude Giroux. Ottawa extended the lead as Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game on the power play in the third period, thanks to Giroux and Tim Stutzle. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars being Chychrun, Tkachuk, and Tarasenko, while Giroux, Konecny, and Sanderson get the honorable mentions.
Next up, the Winnipeg Jets bring in the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Connor Hellebuyck man the nets. Winnipeg began in the first period with a Mark Scheifele power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey. Florida tied it on a Sam Reinhart power play goal, with helpers from Evan Rodrigues and Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers pulled ahead in the second period with a Rodrigues goal, assisted by Dmitry Kulikov and Aleksander Barkov. The Jets retied it on a Connor goal, his second of the year, via Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi. Winnipeg took the lead with a Morgan Barron goal, set up by Rasmus Kupari and Mason Appleton. The Jets added on with a Dylan DeMelo goal, guided in by Cole Perfetti and Nino Niederreiter. Winnipeg extended the lead in third period on an Appleton shorthanded goal, passed from Adam Lowry. Florida answered on a Carter Verhaeghe goal, courtesy of Tkachuk. The Panthers got closer with a Rodrigues goal, his second of the game, made possible by Barkov and Reinhart. The Jets iced it at 6-4 with a Connor empty net power play goal, with an assist by Morrissey. The three stars went to Scheifele, Connor, and Rodrigues, while Barkov, Reinhart, Morrissey, Tkachuk, and Appleton get the honorable mentions.
Stateside, the Boston Bruins host the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Jeremy Swayman start in goal. Nashville opened in the first period with a Colton Sissons goal, his second of the season, made possible by Kiefer Sherwood and Tyson Barrie. Boston tied it on a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, powered by Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins took the lead with a David Pastrnak penalty shot goal in the second period, his third goal of the year. The Predators retied it on a Sissons goal, his second of the game and third of the season, coming off of Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg. Boston pulled ahead in the third period with a van Riemsdyk power play goal, his second of the game, with assists provided by McAvoy and Pastrnak. The final stood at 3-2, with the three stars being van Riemsdyk, Pastrnak, and Sissons, while McAvoy gets an honorable mention.
West to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets welcome the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Elvis Merzlikins are in the creases. New York started in the first period with an Erik Gustafsson goal, via Adam Fox and Jimmy Vesey. Columbus tied it on a Boone Jenner goal, passed from Johnny Gaudreau and Kirill Marchenko. The Blue Jackets took the lead on another Jenner goal, his second of the game, assisted by Gaudreau and Ivan Provorov on the power play. Columbus added on in the second period with a Jenner goal, completing his hat trick with the help of Jake Bean. The Blue Jackets extended the lead as David Jiricek scored, thanks to Patrik Laine and Provorov. Spencer Martin replaced an ill Merzlikins in goal for the third period. The Rangers got one back in the third period with a Will Cuylle goal, made possible by Vincent Trocheck and Gustafsson. Columbus fired back with a Justin Danforth goal, helped along by Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson. New York got closer with a Chris Kreider power play goal, with assists provided by Artemi Panarin and Fox. The final held at 5-3, with the three stars being Jenner, Gaudreau, and Provorov, while Gustafsson and Fox get the honorable mentions.
To Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jonas Johansson and Ville Husso patrol the creases. Detroit struck first in the first period with a Daniel Sprong goal, his second of the season, via Alex DeBrincat. Tampa Bay tied it on a Steven Stamkos goal, assisted by Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning took the lead with a Brandon Hagel goal, his second of the year, passed from Hedman. The Red Wings tied it on a DeBrincat goal, his second of the season, helped along by Shayne Gostisbehere and Dylan Larkin. Detroit pulled ahead with an unassisted Lucas Raymond goal in the second period. Tampa Bay retied it with a Stamkos goal, his second of the game, guided in by Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. The Red Wings gained the lead on a J.T. Compher goal, coming off of Moritz Seider and Andrew Copp. Detroit added on with a DeBrincat goal, his second of the game and third of the year, fueled by Larkin. The Lightning fired back with a Hedman power play goal, with helpers from Kucherov and Stamkos. The Red Wings iced it at 6-4 with a Seider empty net goal, set up by Compher. The three stars went to DeBrincat, Hedman, and Seider, while Stamkos, Hagel, Compher, and Kucherov get the honorable mentions.
In Canada, the Montreal Canadiens host the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek and Sam Montembeault draw the starts in goal. Montreal got going in the second period with a Cole Caufield goal, his second of the season, guided in by Josh Anderson. The Canadiens added on with a Tanner Pearson goal, fueled by Kaiden Guhle and Sean Monahan. Montreal extended the lead on a shorthanded goal by Monahan, set up by Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Chicago got on the board in the third period with a Tyler Johnson goal, via Seth Jones and Taylor Raddysh. The Blackhawks got closer with a Johnson goal, his second of the game, passed from Corey Perry and Connor Bedard. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Monahan, Johnson, and Caufield.
Next up, the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Alex Nedeljkovic are given the green light to play in goal. Calgary dented the scoreboard with a Matt Coronato power play goal, powered by Elias Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson. Pittsburgh tied it in the third period with a Bryan Rust goal, his second of the season, via Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel. The Penguins took the lead on a Reilly Smith goal, his second of the year, helped along by Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell. Pittsburgh added on with a Guentzel goal, made possible by Letang and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins extended the lead as Malkin scored his second of the season, thanks to Smith. The Flames got one back on a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, assisted by Andrew Mangiapane and Noah Hanifin. Pittsburgh finished it at 5-2 with a Rust empty net goal, his second of the game and third of the year, set up by Guentzel. The three stars belonged to Rust, Guentzel, and Malkin, while Smith and Letang get the honorable mentions.
Back to Ontario, as the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Minnesota Wild. Filip Gustavsson and Ilya Samsonov protect the nets. Minnesota was first to score in the first period with a Ryan Hartman goal, fueled by Kirill Kaprizov and Jonas Brodin. Toronto tied it on an Auston Matthews goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Mitchell Marner. The Maple Leafs took the lead with a Matthews power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, powered by William Nylander. Toronto added on with a Nylander goal, his second of the season, courtesy of John Tavares and Max Domi. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as Tyler Bertuzzi scored on the power play, thanks to Calle Jarnkrok and Morgan Rielly. The Wild got one back with a Matt Boldy goal, helped along by Mats Zuccarello and Calen Addison. Minnesota got closer with a Marco Rossi goal, assisted by Marcus Foligno and Brock Faber. Toronto answered in the third period with a Jarnkrok goal, made possible by Rielly and T.J. Brodie. The Maple Leafs padded the lead on a Matthews goal to finish his hat trick with his sixth of the season, guided in by Marner. Toronto kept going with a Nylander goal, his second of the game and third of the year, with helpers from John Klingberg and Tavares. The Wild got one back on a Brandon Duhaime goal, with assists from Connor Dewar and Jacob Middleton. This only made it 7-4, the final, with the three stars given to Matthews, Nylander, and Jarnkrok, while Tavares, Rielly, and Marner get the honorable mentions.
South to New York, where the Islanders host the Buffalo Sabres. Devon Levi is mismatched with Ilya Sorokin in goal. New York kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Brock Nelson goal, coming off of Pierre Engvall. The Islanders added on with a Kyle Palmieri goal, via Nelson and Ryan Pulock. Buffalo got on the board in the second period with a Jordan Greenway goal, assisted by Casey Mittelstadt and Zach Benson. The Sabres tied it in the third period with a Mittelstadt goal, guided in by Benson and Rasmus Dahlin. New York regained the lead with a Casey Cizikas goal, helped along by Adam Pelech and Cal Clutterbuck. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Nelson, Mittelstadt, and Benson.
Out west, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Seattle Kraken. Joey Daccord and Jordan Binnington are the masked men. Seattle cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, powered by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Vince Dunn. St. Louis tied it on a Jordan Kyrou goal, coming off of Robert Thomas. The tie went to a shootout, where Thomas' lone tally lifted the Blues to a 2-1 win. The three stars were Thomas, Binnington (30 for 31 in saves), and Daccord (25 for 26 in saves).
Northwest to Edmonton, as the Oilers bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Casey DeSmith and Stuart Skinner are between the pipes. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Leon Draisaitl goal, his second of the season, via Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Vancouver tied it with an Andrei Kuzmenko power play goal, powered by Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson. The Canucks took the lead with a Nils Hoglander goal, made possible by Brock Boeser and Tyler Myers. The Oilers tied it in the second period with a Connor McDavid power play goal, with assists provided by Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl. Vancouver regained the lead with a Jack Studnicka goal, coming off of Pettersson. Edmonton tied it on a Nugent-Hopkins power play goal, with helpers from Evan Bouchard and McDavid. The Canucks pulled ahead in the third period with a Sam Lafferty goal, courtesy of Hoglander. This held for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Hoglander, Nugent-Hopkins, and Draisaitl, while McDavid and Pettersson get the honorable mentions.
Down in San Jose, the Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev faces a lesser foe in Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. San Jose started in the first period with a Thomas Bordeleau goal, via Matt Benning and Mike Hoffman. Colorado tied it in the third period with a Cale Makar goal, his second of the season, coming off of Valeri Nichushkin. The Avalanche prevailed 2-1 in the shootout on Mikko Rantanen's lone tally. The three stars were Blackwood (51 for 52 in saves), Georgiev (20 for 21 in saves), and Makar.
Southeast to Vegas, as the Golden Knights welcome the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Adin Hill tend the twines. Vegas began in the first period with a Jack Eichel power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Shea Theodore and Chandler Stephenson. The Golden Knights added on in the second period with a Stephenson goal, his second of the year, fueled by Paul Cotter and Brayden McNabb. Vegas extended the lead in the third period as Theodore scored on the power play, thanks to Eichel and Stephenson. Anaheim got on the board with a Mason McTavish goal, coming off of Jamie Drysdale and Ryan Strome. The Golden Knights iced it at 4-1 with a Jonas Rondbjerg empty net goal, set up by Nicolas Hague. The three stars were Stephenson, Eichel, and Theodore.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Pheonix Copley are in the blue paint. Carolina led off in the first period with a Brent Burns goal, via Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes added on with a Sebastian Aho shorthanded goal, going in unassisted. Carolina extended the lead as Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored an unassisted goal. Los Angeles got on the board with a Drew Doughty goal, helped along by Kevin Fiala and Mikey Anderson. The Hurricanes replied in the second period with a Brendan Lemieux goal, passed from Tony DeAngelo. The Kings shot back with an Anze Kopitar power play goal, powered by Adrian Kempe. Carolina fired back with a Teuvo Teravainen shorthanded goal, his second of the season, set up by Aho and Brady Skjei. Los Angeles answered with a Trevor Moore power play goal, with helpers from Jordan Spence and Phillip Danault. The Kings pulled closer with a Vladislav Gavrikov goal, made possible by Trevor Lewis and Blake Lizotte. Los Angeles tied it on another Kopitar goal, his second of the game, fueled by Carl Grundstrom and Fiala. The tie went to a shootout, where the Hurricanes prevailed 6-5 with tallies from Aho, Martin Necas and Jordan Martinook to top Pierre-Luc Dubois and Moore's tallies for the Kings. The three stars were Aho, Kopitar, and Fiala.
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