Rested Stars come out blazing

The well-rested Stars took it to the bangedup Lightning with the play and physicality early and goaltender Anton Khudobin closed it out with 22 third-period saves to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final 4-1 on Saturday night in Edmonton, Alberta.

Joel Hanley and Jamie Oleksiak continued the Stars’ postseason trend of getting goals from defensemen, and second-round Game 7 hat-trick hero Joel Kiviranta scored late in the second period to provide some breathing room. Khudobin continued to shine in his first playoffs as the starter, making 35 saves.

Khudobin was at his best in the third when the Lightning found their legs and tilted the ice toward him. He came up big on two penalty kills and strengthened his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Game 1 started out looking every bit like the Stars had four days off since winning the Western Conference final and the Lightning just one after clinching the East. The Stars, who grinded their way through the playoffs with tight-checking toughness, came out hitting, knowing the Lightning are not fully healthy.

“They were right on top of us,” said Yanni Gourde, who scored the Lightning’s only goal. “They were on top of us right from the get go, so we’ve got to adjust and do a better job.”

Stars forward Blake Comeau hit 6-6 defenseman Victor Hedman on one of the first shifts, and Kiviranta crushed top center Brayden Point into the boards to set up Hanley’s first NHL goal of any kind.

Next season could start later than planned

Commissioner Gary Bettman raised the possibility that the next NHL season could begin later than on Dec. 1 as tentatively planned. He said it could start sometime later in December or even January.