The first day of the 2010-11 NHL regular season yielded some impressive plays and highlights, while three under dog teams took charge and got their season started off right, while two rookies in particular stole the show.-Thursday Night’s Video Highlights -Thursday Night’s Scoreboard- Standings Update
Calgary 0
Edmonton 4
GOAL SCORERS
EDM: Brule, G. (PPG, 09:04 in 1st), Eberle, J. (SHG, 01:24 in 3rd), Hemsky, A. (02:43 in 3rd), Horcoff, S. (PPG, 05:04 in 3rd)
GOALIES
CGY: M. Kiprusoff (L)
EDM: N. Khabibulin (W)
The highlight of the night was rookie sensation Jordan Eberle’s first National Hockey League goal in his first regular season appearance of his career. Eberle’s goal came in the second period to put the new-look Oilers up 2-0 while shorthanded as he deked out Calgary’s defense and undressed Mikka Kiprusoff as he backhanded it top shelf past a sprawling Kiprusoff. Everyone thought he had scored again, but the goal was given to new team captain Shawn Horcoff as it went off of his body before going into the net.
"It was one of the nicer goals I've scored for sure," said Eberle, the Oilers' top pick in the 2008 Entry Draft. "As of right now, it's one of the more special ones I've had."
The three kids; Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi were in the spotlight in last nights’ game and did not disappoint. The three of them combined for 10 shots, one goal, one assist, and two penalty minutes. Each of them had excellent scoring chances in their respective NHL debuts, and the deafeat of the undefeated (through pre-season) Calgary Flames showed good signs for the Oilers, who finished dead last in last year’s regular season. All three of these kids will be fighting for the Calder Trophy, which may be across the board one of the most interesting and exciting storylines of the year. Also, in the third period, Oilers' heavyweight Steve MacIntyre dropped Raitis Ivanens with a knockout punch in a tough fight.
Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin also impressed heavily posting his 42nd career chutout with a whopping 37 saves. It was Nikolai’s first start since November 16th due to a herniated disc that required surgery over the off-season.
Star of the Game: Jordan Eberle
Goals: 1 |Assists: 1
Points: 2 | SOG: 4
+/-: 1 | PIM: 0
BOXSCORE – RECAP – GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Carolina 4
Minnesota 3
GOAL SCORERS
CAR: Sutter, B. (PPG, 19:50 in 1st), Babchuk, A. (05:58 in 2nd), Jokinen, J. (PPG, 11:16 in 2nd), Sutter, B. (18:03 in 2nd)
MIN: Latendresse, G. (03:33 in 1st), Cullen, M. (PPG, 09:52 in 2nd), Burns, B. (PPG, 16:39 in 3rd)
GOALIES
CAR: C. Ward (W)
MIN: N. Backstrom (L)
Brandon Sutter and the Carolina Hurricanes got their season started off right with a victory in Finland. Sutter starred in the first game played in the 2010-11 season with two goals, including the game winner. The Hurricanes dominated the second period with three goals that the Wild couldn’t recover from.
There was very much a battle of Finns in this game, as each of the Finland born players want to impress their home country fans over the course of the two games played in Helsinki. Canes winger Jussi Jokinen and defenseman Joni Pitkinen bettered the Wild’s Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, and goaltender Niklas Backstrom in the first of the two game set played over seas. Jokinen had 30 friends and family members in attendance to see him play an NHL game in Finland. They were rewarded midway through the second period when Jokinen gave the Canes a 3-2 lead with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal.
The two teams meet again this afternoon for the last of the two games played in Helsinki as Niklas Backstrom and the Wild will be determined not to make the long trip back home without having scored any points.
Star of the Game: Brandon Sutter
Goals: 2 |Assists: 0
Points: 2 | SOG: 3
+/-: 1 | PIM: 0
BOXSCORE – RECAP – GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Montreal 2
Toronto 3
GOAL SCORERS
MTL: Boyd, D. (12:19 in 1st), Halpern, J. (02:28 in 3rd)
TOR: Brent, T. (06:42 in 1st), Kessel, P. (08:57 in 1st), MacArthur, C. (01:36 in 3rd)
GOALIES
MTL: C. Price (L)
TOR: J. Giguere (W)
Brian Burke’s Toronto Maples Leafs won the first of six matchups between these two clubs in a fast paced, back and forth style of game. There were 52 total shots in the game, as Jean-Sebastien Giguere stole the spotlight for the Leafs, getting the team off to a great start especially in comparison to last year’s eight straight losses by the leafs at the beginning of last season.
Newly acquired Tim Brent got the goal scoring started off with a hard work effort, as newly acquired Clarke MacArthur made a nice move in the third period to score a backhander for the game winning goal.
All eyes in Canada are watching to see if this new-look Maple Leafs squad can make the post season for the first time in five years.
Star of the Game: Jean-Sebastien Giguere
SAVE PCTG: 0.929
SA: 28 | GA: 2
BOXSCORE – RECAP – GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Philadelphia 3
Pittsburgh 2
GOAL SCORERS
PHI: Briere, D. (PPG, 02:51 in 2nd), Betts, B. (17:15 in 2nd), Giroux, C. (SHG, 04:55 in 3rd)
PIT: Kennedy, T. (00:44 in 3rd), Goligoski, A. (PPG, 05:14 in 3rd)
GOALIES
PHI: S. Bobrovsky (W)
PIT: M. Fleury (L)
The Philadelphia Flyers played spoilers to Pittsburgh’s first game in their new arena. Danny Briere got the goal scoring started off in the second period on a tough angle tip in on the powerplay. Claude Giroux would be the hero with a beautiful shorthanded goal at the five minute mark in the third period, followed immediately by a powerplay goal by Alex Goligoski.
Goligoski and the Pens effort was overshadowed by goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made his NHL debut as the youngest ever goaltender to start the season in Philadelphia’s storied history. Bobrovsky, 22, stopped 29 shots for the win and was arguably the best player in the game.
Star of the Game: Sergei Bobrovsky
SAVE PCTG: 0.935
SA: 31 | GA: 2
BOXSCORE – RECAP – GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Chicago 3
Colorado 4OT
GOAL SCORERS
CHI: Bickell, B. (PPG, 04:37 in 1st), Hossa, M. (18:24 in 2nd), Sharp, P. (PPG, 10:25 in 3rd)
COL: Stewart, C. (16:30 in 1st), Duchene, M. (06:13 in 2nd), Stastny, P. (PPG, 13:51 in 2nd), Stastny, P. (03:40 in OT)
GOALIES
CHI: M. Turco (L)
COL: C. Anderson (W)
The night’s most exciting and closely contested game was probably the matchup between the young Colorado Avalanche and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. Brian Bickell made Quenneville happy as he got the scoring started off on the powerplay, but it was team points leader from last season, Paul Stastny, that stole the show on home ice. Stastny scored on the powerplay in the second period, and would score the game winner in overtime to avoid a shootout against veteran goaltender Marty Turco.
There were a total of 79 shots in this game as both goaltenders had to stand on their heads to give their team a shot at winning. Craig Anderson bettered new-to-Chicago Marty Turco this time, as he stopped 35 or 38 shots against the team he originally started his NHL career with.
Star of the Game: Paul Stastny
Goals: 2 |Assists: 0
Points: 2 | SOG: 4
+/-: 2 | PIM: 0
BOXSCORE – RECAP – GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Kendall Grubbs
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