Avs raise banner, net win in opener
Four power-play goals blitz Blackhawks
Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin each scored two power-play goals, Mikko Rantanen had four assists, and fast-skating Colorado began its Stanley Cup title defense with a 5-2 victory over Chicago on Wednesday.
Shortly after raising their newest banner to the rafters, the Avalanche went to work. Andrew Cogliano scored Colorado’s first goal of the season, the game’s lone goal that wasn’t on the power play. Nathan Mackinnon, fresh off a new lucrative contract, had two assists, and new Avs goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stopped 15 shots.
Jonathan Toews and
Max Domi had goals as Luke Richardson made his coaching debut for the Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek finished with 30 saves against an Avalanche team that won the title last season by dethroning Tampa Bay in six games.
The crowd was revved up well before the puck dropped.
The appetizer was a highlight video of Colorado’s run to the franchise’s third Stanley Cup title. Then, some music as Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 led a sing-along of the band’s tune “All The Small Things,” which became an Avalanche anthem.
There also was captain Gabriel Landeskog hoisting the Cup and skating around with the trophy (he missed the game with a lower-body injury). And there were plenty of on-ice pictures, including a memorable shot of the team with Blackhawks defenseman Jack Johnson joining in. Johnson was with Colorado last season.
Finally, the feature attraction — the banner raised to the rafters. As it climbed higher and higher, the cheers got louder and louder.
■ Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3:
At Montreal, former Golden Knights prospect Nick Suzuki had two assists for Montreal, including one on Josh Anderson’s goahead goal with 19 seconds left. Cole Caufield scored twice for the Canadiens, who took their first lead on newcomer Sean Monahan’s goal with 2:30 left.
Jake Allen stopped a penalty shot and totaled 29 saves for Montreal. Alexander Kerfoot was given the penalty shot with 2:40 left in the second period, when defenseman Arber Xhekaj dragged him down on a breakaway. Michael Bunting, Dennis Maglin and William Nylander scored for Toronto to back Matt Murray, who stopped 29 shots.
■ Ducks 5, Kraken 4, OT:
At Anaheim, Calif., Troy Terry scored his second goal of the night 55 seconds into overtime to back John Gibson, who stopped 44 shots and assisted on the winning goal. Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists in his debut for Anaheim, which overcame a two-goal deficit.
■ Oilers 5, Canucks 3:
At Edmonton, Alberta, Connor Mcdavid had three goals and an assist as Edmonton overcame a 3-0 second-period deficit in both teams’ opener. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists to back Jack Campbell, who had 33 saves in his Oilers debut. J.T. Miller had a goal and an assist for Vancouver.
■ Hurricanes 4, Blue Jackets 1:
At Raleigh, N.C., Martin Necas had a goal and two assists to back Frederik Andersen, who stopped 31 shots, as Carolina won its fourth straight opener. Daniil Tarasov started in goal in place of Elvis Merzlikins (illness) for Columbus and had 39 saves in his fifth NHL game.
■ Bruins 5, Capitals 2:
At Washington, David Pastrnak had a goal and three assists to back Linus Ullmark, who had 33 saves in both teams’ opener. Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 29 shots in his debut for Washington, which went 0-for-4 on the power play.