Hits And Misses From NHL's Opening Week

(Jim Rassol — AP Photos)

Hits

Colorado Avalanche

In their first matchup of the season, the Blues took the win against a dangerous Avalanche team. Just two days later, the Avalanche responded with an 8-0 victory. The Avalanche beating the Blues isn’t the surprise, but the details of the victory are. Gabriel Landeskog, the Colorado captain, scored two goals bringing his career total to 200. Landeskog is only the fourth player in the history of the Avalanche to reach that milestone. Colorado star Mikko Rantanen reached a personal milestone tallying his 100th goal. Avalanche goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, record his 12th career shutout and also tallied an assist. Three players recorded notables in only the second game of the season. The Avalanche are a team to watch out for.

Buffalo Sabres 

The Buffalo Sabres have not been too impressive these past couple seasons, but they came to play on Monday. They defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1. The Flyers surprised me with their skill last season, and I expected them to come into this season with more of a bite. Sabres’ Curtis Lazar’s back-handed goal in first period really set the tone for this hockey game. The Sabres then capitalized on the powerplay early in the second period and went into the third period with a comfortable 4-0 lead. Buffalo scored another goal about half way through the period. The Flyers responded scoring one late in the third, but the Sabres didn’t let that get to them as they scored one more time late in the game to finish it off. This game had a fast pace, good puck movement and overall impressive start to the season for Buffalo. 

New Jersey Devils

The Devils had to turn to 24-year-old goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood after two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Corey Crawford, chose to retire. Blackwood is an impressive, young goaltender, especially in the game against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins have been a consistently skilled and dangerous team for years now, and holding this aggressive Bruins team to one goal and then beating them in overtime should be a huge confidence boost for the Devils. In addition to beating them, the Devils registered more hits and shots on goal against the Bruins. 

Misses

Carolina Hurricanes 

A rebuilding Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 in their second meeting of the season. ESPN’s preseason rankings have the Red Wings coming in last place, identical to where they ended the 2019-2020 season. The Hurricanes have been, in my opinion, consistently improving over the past couple of years. Even though it is the beginning of the season and the team has probably yet to hit their stride, it still surprised me that this team dropped the game to the Red Wings. The Hurricanes have an opportunity in the realigned Central Division to pick up some easy points on their way to the playoffs and should take advantage of those easier games to hold themselves high in the standings with a short 56-game season. A definite missed opportunity for the Hurricanes.

Chicago Blackhawks 

As a Blackhawks fan… this season is going to hurt.

Boston Bruins 

How will the Boston Bruins adjust without their former captain Zdano Chara? From what I am seeing, it isn’t looking the best. They are currently 1-1-1, which theoretically isn’t the worst start, but in this short season, it may not be what they needed. They beat the Devils in their first matchup of the season, but in a shootout. The next game, they lost to New Jersey in overtime. On Monday, they fell to the Islanders. The Bruins outshot the Islanders, but could not capitalize on the powerplay or even strength. I think the Bruins missed the mark this week, but we will see if they turn it around.