Three storylines
Every point counts. Granted, it’s the first of 82 games and most of North America hasn’t even started shoveling snow. But a strong start is imperative for the Knights ahead of a five-game road trip that immediately follows the season opener.
Selke showdown. Flyers center Sean Couturier finished second in the voting for the Selke Award as the top defensive forward, and Knights center William Karlsson was sixth. In two head-to-head matchups last season, Couturier (one goal, three assists) outscored Karlsson (one goal, one assist). New-look Flyers. Philadelphia was third in the Metropolitan Division and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Pittsburgh. The Flyers made a splash in free agency, signing winger James van Riemsdyk. But the goaltending remains a question.
David Schoen Aggressive. And good things will happen.”
The Knights are without injured forwards Cody Eakin (lower body) and Alex Tuch (lower body) and enter the season with 12 healthy forwards.
Erik Haula will play right wing on the second line with Stastny and left wing Max Pacioretty. Winger Tomas Nosek joins center Oscar Lindberg and winger Ryan Carpenter on the third line.
“We’re missing three good hockey players, but again, we went through that last year,” Gallant said, referring to suspended defenseman Nate Schmidt along with Eakin and Tuch. “I like our lineup. I look on the board right now, we’ve got four pretty good lines, six pretty good (defensemen) going out there (Thursday) night. It’s the way it is in the NHL. Every team misses players. We fill in and we play the best we can without them.”
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal. com or 702-387-5203. Follow @Davidschoenlvrj on Twitter.