The NHL is back, and only three games were needed on the docket for opening day to start with a bang. Two games involved former Cup finalists, one included a fairly excessive banner-raising ceremony, and the other pitted two bitter rivals. The leading man was a goalie who was platooning in the AHL this time a year ago.
1
James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs – Optimus Reim picked up where he left off last season, blanking the rival Habs 2-0 with a 32-save outing that included 14-shot periods in the first and the third. Mike Lombardi tallied a goal in his return to action after missing the bulk of last season with a concussion, and Dion Phaneuf had a goal and an assist.
2
Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins – Has Cooke turned a new leaf on his career? He certainly made a big impression Thursday, scoring a power-play goal and a short-handed goal in the Pens' shootout win over the Canucks. James Neal had Pittsburgh’s other regulation marker, and Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin scored in the shootout.
3
Jaromir Jagr, Philadelphia Flyers – I’ll be the first to admit to cynicism about Jagr returning to the NHL. Super Mario's old linemate answered criticism by tallying his 1,600th career NHL point, an assist on Claude Giroux's power-play goal, in the first period. Jakub Voracek scored 47 seconds later to give the Flyers the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Boston.
Goal of the Night
Not only was this Jagr's 1,600th point, but the goal was pretty nice too:
Hit of the Night
Mike Brown welcomes Chris Campoli to the Canadiens-Maple Leafs rivalry early on with this big hit:
Minus of the Night
Numbers on the front of the helmets. Seriously? The gigantic number on the back of the jerseys, or the numbers on the sleeves, or on the back of the helmet weren't enough? I didn't know there was an epidemic of people not knowing who was who on the ice.
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The NHL is back, and only three games were needed on the docket for opening day to start with a bang. Two games involved former Cup finalists, one included a fairly excessive banner-raising ceremony, and the other pitted two bitter rivals. The leading man was a goalie who was platooning in the AHL this time a year ago.