It’s been a few months since NHL teams squared off and almost a year since regular season action. But January 13 saw 10 squads in action that could be described as electric, jumping, really any words a commentator throws around to describe when players decide to push their own limits.
To start off the season, the Penguins (0-1-0) gave the Flyers (1-0-0) a run for their money, keeping it close into the third period before their in-state rivals potted two goals in 20 seconds. Final score favored the Flyers 6-3. Kevin Hayes looked solid, and it seemed like the Flyers heated up throughout the game. Pittsburgh tried all game, but when a guy like Joel Farabee decides to go Ludicrous Speed, well, goodnight Jim Kyte. Carter Hart (or Cahtah Haht depending on your geographic origins) looked solid, especially for a younger goalie starting the season. Both teams looked solid, shocking my expectations. I can see the Pens competing for a playoff spot depending on which East Division team chooses to shit the proverbial bed. If Tristan Jarry didn’t play like a limp shrimp, who knows what this game could have been.
Toronto narrowly edged out the Habs in extra time, winning 5-4 in OT. I thought the Habs played the better game, but Toronto magic prevailed. Josh Anderson looks nasty for Montreal, scoring two in his debut with hockey’s most historic club. Freddie Anderson and Carey Price looked rough around the edges but that rust will likely fall off in the next few weeks. It isn’t uncommon for either netminder to start a little cold. I have my concerns about the Leafs as they stole this one, but perhaps those will be assuaged as more games take place. The Habs will be boosted by not having to play the Wings this season (all kidding aside, how did they not beat them last year. Embarrassing.). I refuse to predict the North Division just yet, but both teams look like third- or fourth-place material, easily enough talent to make the playoffs. By the way, Auston Matthews took seven shots and never found the back of the net. Let’s see him go nuts next game.
Tampa Bay shot down the Blackhawks like the fuelless jet they are. For a team playing in the United Center, who would’ve thought Chicago’s play style could best be described as a jetliner crashing into the side of a mountain. The Bolts won 5-1 in a rout that we all expected yet hoped would be less violent. One of my Hawks fan friends summed up the game nicely: “This is just sad.” I can’t even give Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point much credit on their production tonight, not when the defense left Malcolm Subban so lonely. If I’m him, I break my own hand to save my career from the dumpster fire called the 2021 Blackhawks. I think Andrei Vasilevskiy let Dylan Strome score just to encourage the poor Hawks, like letting your little cousin get a strike on you after you’ve hit 10 homers off of him. Something has to change in Chicago before they become a hellhole like the Red Wings organization. Oh how the mighty have fallen (in both cases).
The Canucks outplayed the Oilers all game, never trailing in a 5-3 victory. The box score lies about how much better Vancouver looked. Bo Horvat scored early when the Oilers decided to socially distance themselves from one of Vancouver’s best players. To their credit, the Oilers came back with intensity, energy, true grit. Braden Holtby played the puck early on in the second period when zero Canucks were looking. For a second, I thought the whistle had blown, but my ears did not lie. Play was still ongoing. Hopefully they can work that out. Quinn Hughes lost an edge five minutes in, and somehow the Canucks cleared the zone. Then Kailer Yamamoto decided he would harsh their mellow by tying up the puck carrier while Leon Draisaitl picked up the puck. He fed Yammer in the slot, who promptly beat Holtby where your mother keeps that ugly crockpot your grandma insisted she take: deep top shelf. Mikko Koskinen seemed sleepy at times, the kind of lull you fall into at about hour seven of a Harry Potter marathon. Nils Hoglander broke the stalemate with his first career goal. He chased to the net while Tanner Pearson got a tight shot on net. Hoglander finished it off when Koskinen was trapped in the butterfly. The Canucks looked confused at the start of the third and Darnell Nurse scored an easy goal on Holtby. Brock Boeser steered his team to victory with two third-period tallies, the last one dirtier than Ted Cruz’s search history.
As the Avalanche looked to prove their hype is deserved, the Blues dominated 4-1 in the final game of the night. Oskar Sundqvist carried the tempo whenever he hit the ice, scoring two goals on four shots and making a painful block with his shine early in the first. Four minutes into the game, the Avs looked lost. Their only saving grace was an accidental head hit that Sammy Blais delivered on Devon Toews. They scored their only goal immediately after. After that, the Blues made them look like an amateur team. St. Louis simply had more energy. I expected more from a team that added Brandon Saad and Toews to an already stacked roster. Jordan Kyrou broke the tie quickly, while the Avs still looked lost. Gabriel Landeskog made one of the most blatant trips with four minutes left in the opening period. After a deadlocked second, the third period saw Kyle Clifford and Sundqvist put up scores. I can only describe this game as one of the worst performances by the Avalanche of the season (yes, I know it’s the first game, but it might stand up for a while).
Stars of the Night
First Star: Oskar Sundqvist (2 goals, including game-winner, awesome shot block).
Second Star: William Nylander (2 goals, assist on game-tying goal)
Third Star: Joel Farabee (1 goal, 1 primary assist, 2 secondary assists)
Honorable Mentions: Brock Boeser (2 goals, including game-winner)
Jordan Binnington (0.962 save percentage, 1 goal against)
At Least You Got Paid: Tristan Jarry (0.760 save percentage, 6 goals against)
Big Tex Goes to College 