Top Headlines: First Week of the NHL Didn’t Disappoint.
(UT) – Utah’s offense has been super aggressive, playing the best hockey we’ve seen so far, now tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for 1st in the Western Conference. The Mammoth also just beat the New Jersey Devils for the first time in franchise history.
(COL) – Colorado still owns the LA Kings after pumping them 8-4 in the season opener. Nathan MacKinnon set the tone and put the league on notice dropping the gloves with Brandt Clarke in Makar’s defense. The Av’s and Ducks are currently the only two undefeated teams in the league.
(TOR) – Toronto Maple Leafs 1st Pick of the Draft, Gavin McKenna netted his first goal with a beautiful top corner snipe, also logging an assist against the Nashville Predators. This happened a few games after Toronto fans made an issue about Sergei Bobrovsky taking the ice before McKenna was able to skate the traditional rookie lap. Bobrovski later addressed the media, claiming his superstition on being the first out on the ice and completely forgetting about Mckenna taking his rookie lap. One has to wonder though. Sergie took McKenna’s college number and then took his rookie lap. Not a good look.
(NSH) – 36-year-old, Steven Stamkos logged his 626th goal, moving up to #17 spot in the “All-Time Goal Scoring” column. Now putting himself ahead of Colorado Avalanche Legend Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla.
(DET) – Dylan Larkin scored his first goal of the season and dropped the gloves with Ridly Greig, backing his teammate Alex DeBrincat after taking a hard hit. Larkin is looking to get back into the good graces of the Detroit fans after requesting a trade out of Detroit during the offseason that lingered for far too long.
(CHI) – Patrick Kane is back in Chicago like he never left, already ripping beauties reminding goalies who the man is in Chicago. Connor Bedard couldn’t be happier to play alongside one of his childhood idols, even though the Blackhawks are off to a rough start. It is only a matter of time before this team starts heating up, putting the pieces together.
(CAR) – Hurricanes Veteran, Nic Deslauriers put on the first scrap of the season, wasting no time calling out Florida Panthers enforcer, Bokondji Imama with some choice words. Deslauriers chirped Imama in a disrespectful way, yelling, “Want me to put you on your ass again!? F****** Big B******!!” Surely, this won’t be the last time these two specimens go at it.
(FLA) – Brad Marchand, after missing the first two games, took an awkward spill into the net leaving him unable to put any weight on his leg while being helped off the ice. Not the news Florida fans want to hear after learning that their Captain Aleksander Barkov will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a lower body injury, luckily not requiring any surgical procedures.
Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for The NSR Network
