Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.Avalanche 5, Sharks 2: The Colorado Avalanche gave their fans something to celebrate before the game by retiring the number of future Hall of Famer Joe Sakic (the banner only includes the franchises time in Colorado which seems ... odd). During the game, they gave their fans something else to celebrate as their team put on an impressive showing in a convincing 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Wojtek Wolski scored a pair of goals for Colorado, while first-round pick Matt Duchene had a strong debut, flashing some of the ability that made him the No. 3 overall pick in June. The story of the night for the Avs, however, was the play of goaltender Craig Anderson.
After the jump: Montreal steals one, video of the night, key games this weekend
Anderson, a free agent acquisition from Florida this offseason, stopped 38 of 40 shots, including all 19 he faced in the third period as the Avalanche were outshot by a 19-1 margin in the final frame. He also came up large midway through the period as Colorado successfully killed off a full two-minute, two-man advantage.
He did get some help when San Jose's big offseason pickup, Dany Heatley, whiffed on a wide-open one-time attempt from right on the door step.
Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3: I don't know how many games the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to win this season, but if Thursday's season opener is any indication, they're going to be must-see TV on most nights. Fights. Goals. Pressure. Intensity. Hell, it took free agent signing Colton Orr just two minutes to throw down with Georges Laraque in what was the first of three fights on the night.
Their spirited effort against long-time nemesis Montreal wasn't enough, however, as Josh Gorges banged home a rebound with under 10 seconds to play in overtime to give the Canadiens a 4-3 win. After Matt Stajan gave Toronto a 3-2 lead midway through the third period -- his second goal of the game -- Glen Metropolit evened the score with 4:46 to play in the third period, forcing overtime. Carey Price stood tall in net for Montreal, turning aside 43 of 46 shots, while Vesa Toskala surrendered four goals on 27 shots for the Leafs.
The Rest Of Thursday's Action
Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich each score a pair as the Capitals dominate Boston. [Box Score, Botta's Recap]
Calgary holds off Vancouver's comeback attempt. [Box Score, Recap]
Loose Pucks
-- Not everybody in Chicago is expecting a Stanley Cup from the Blackhawks this season. Take, for example, Mike Kiley on Blackhawks Confidential. I'll supply the PG part: "Shut up about the Stanley Cup finals being within reach. Shut up about One Goal. Shut up about Cup or Bust." [Blackhawks Confidential]
-- In a mailbag segment at the Washingon Post on Thursday, a reader asked Thomas Boswell if "Theo" (as in Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore) can have a consistent season, and even makes a reference to "opening night." Boswell responds with 151 words about Theo Epstein and the Boston Red Sox. Yikes. [Washington Post, via Japers Rink]
-- Free agent forward Blair Betts signs a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. [CSN Philadelphia]
Video Of The Night
We'll give it to Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich for scoring the first goal of the NHL season, his first of two on the night. Not the best goal you'll see, but it's the first of the season and that's always a pleasant sight.
Key Games To Watch This Weekend
Penguins vs. Rangers: The Stanley Cup banner gets raised at Mellon Arena on Friday night as the Penguins host their Atlantic Division rivals. Captain Sidney Crosby is nursing a sore groin but is expected to be in the lineup, even if he's not 100 percent.
European Vacation: The Red Wings and Blues will spend their weekend playing a pair of games in Stockholm, Sweden, while the Panthers and Blackhawks drop the puck in Helsinki, Finland. All four teams that opened the season overseas a year ago went through in-season coaching changes. Odds of that repeating this year: 0 percent.
Islanders vs. Penguins: The Islanders open their season on Saturday night and celebrate the arrival of No. 1 overall pick John Tavares.
Lighting vs. Thrashers: Speaking of debuts ... No. 2 overall pick Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Atlanta on Saturday night.
All 30 teams will be in action on Saturday night.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-02-2009 @ 12:47PM
Josh said...
Why is it odd that they only included his time in Colorado and Quebec? The Avs have never recognized their past. Look up at their rafters right now. They're missing 4 or 5 numbers that were retired by the Nordiques, including the father of Paul Stantsy (who, coincidentally, also wears that number)
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