17.10.2024
Pittsburgh Penguins 6 - 5 Buffalo Sabres
In a thrilling overtime victory, Sidney Crosby propelled the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-5 win over the Buffalo Sabres, surpassing the 1,600-point milestone with a goal and two assists. Crosby's winning power-play goal was assisted by Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin, who also achieved a personal milestone by scoring his 500th NHL goal along with three assists, becoming the 48th player in NHL history to reach this mark. Notably, Crosby now ranks as the fifth-fastest player to reach 1,600 points in NHL history, following legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Meanwhile, Joel Blomqvist played a crucial role, making 26 saves in relief after struggling goalie Tristan Jarry allowed three goals on five shots. For Buffalo, JJ Peterka made a notable comeback from a concussion with two goals, yet the Sabres struggled to handle the pressure, as noted by coach Lindy Ruff, remaining winless on the power play this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs 6 - 2 Los Angeles Kings
Auston Matthews led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, scoring his first goal of the season and adding two assists. Bobby McMann bolstered the offense with two goals, while William Nylander and Mitch Marner contributed a goal, an assist, and three assists, respectively. The Maple Leafs, now on a three-game winning streak, displayed strong team performance, rotating all four lines effectively. Despite outshooting the Maple Leafs 25-14 in the final two periods, including a strong push in the second period, the Kings couldn't overcome their defensive lapses. Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves, and the team secured its first power-play goal of the season, finally converting on their 12th attempt. In response, Kings coach Jim Hiller expressed concerns over missed defensive opportunities, and the Kings struggled with early breakdowns that cost them the game despite a resilient second period.
Colorado Avalanche 3 - 5 Boston Bruins
In a thrilling matchup at Denver's Ball Arena, the Boston Bruins secured a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Hampus Lindholm led the Bruins with a goal and an assist, while Joonas Korpisalo earned his first win for Boston, making 22 crucial saves. David Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle, and Cole Koepke also scored for the Bruins, with Koepke opening the scoring by deflecting Andrew Peeke's shot. Despite a valiant effort from Colorado, featuring noteworthy contributions from Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen, both tallying a goal and two assists, the Avalanche fell short and started the season with a rare 0-4-0 record, a first since 1998-99. The game also saw Matt Stienburg make his NHL debut for the Avalanche, albeit finishing with a minus-1 rating over his limited ice time. Colorado continues to showcase a powerful offense with a league-leading power-play success rate, although they couldn't overcome Boston's consistent performance.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - 4 Utah Hockey Club
In a thrilling home opener at the Honda Center, Leo Carlsson scored 54 seconds into overtime to secure a 5-4 victory for the Anaheim Ducks over the Utah Hockey Club. Carlsson's game-winning goal came from a decisive steal off Nick Schmaltz and a successful drive past Utah goalie Connor Ingram. Notably, Pavel Mintyukov showcased his offensive prowess, scoring two goals in what marked the first multi-goal game of his NHL career, while Mason McTavish contributed with two assists. Despite the Ducks' unsuccessful power play attempts, they maintained momentum, with Trevor Zegras achieving his 100th NHL assist. Utah, led by goals from Jack McBain, Michael Kesselring, and Clayton Keller, demonstrated resilience, as noted by Coach Andre Tourigny, especially considering their comeback efforts and the team's strong road game performance. Anaheim's win extended their home opener victories to nine consecutive seasons, highlighting their youth-driven lineup, featuring four players aged 20 or under.