09.10.2024
Seattle Kraken 2 - 3 St Louis Blues
In an exciting season opener at Climate Pledge Arena, the St. Louis Blues rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2, thanks to two goals from Jordan Kyrou and a debut goal by Philip Broberg. The game marked the debut of Dan Bylsma as Kraken head coach and saw Seattle captain Jordan Eberle officially named before the game. Notably, Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell made history as the first woman to coach an NHL regular-season game. Though Vince Dunn and Eeli Tolvanen initially put Seattle ahead, the Blues' turnaround came in a swift 1:55 span during the second period, with Kyrou also managing a crucial power-play goal following an overturned Seattle goal. Justin Faulk contributed two assists, while Jordan Binnington made 30 saves to secure the Blues’ sixth straight opener without a loss.
Florida Panthers 6 - 4 Boston Bruins
In their Stanley Cup title defense opener, the Florida Panthers dominated early by scoring four goals in the first period, ultimately securing a 6-4 victory against the Boston Bruins at Amerant Bank Arena. This energetic start was fueled by Sam Bennett's double goal contribution, alongside goals from Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues, while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves. Coach Paul Maurice attributed the team's vibrant performance to the energy from raising the championship banner and an electrified home crowd. Meanwhile, the Bruins couldn't quite catch up despite goals from Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha, and Trent Frederic. Joonas Korpisalo struggled in his Bruins debut, allowing six goals on 35 shots after being acquired in a trade, while Jeremy Swayman remained benched following his new contract. The game also saw Carter Verhaeghe sign a long-term contract extension with the Panthers, marking his commitment to the team.
Utah Hockey Club 5 - 2 Chicago Blackhawks
In their inaugural NHL game at Delta Center, the Utah Hockey Club triumphed over the Chicago Blackhawks with a 5-2 victory. Dylan Guenther was a standout for Utah, scoring two goals, including the first in franchise history. Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno scored for the Blackhawks, with Connor Bedard providing two assists. Despite some shaky early play, Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson acknowledged improvements as the game progressed but lamented the team's slow start. Utah's Clayton Keller made history by becoming the first captain to score in a franchise's inaugural game since 1999, while the team joined the ranks of those winning their first-ever NHL match in the league's expansion era. Connor Ingram, Utah's goaltender, contributed with 24 saves, underscoring a solid start to the season for the new team as they aim for playoff contention.