The Great One sees greatness in Connor McDavid.Speaking with The Globe and Mail, the NHL's all-time leading score didn't hold back on his adulation."I don't think there's any question that Connor's the best 19-year-old hockey player I've ever seen and I saw (Mark) Messier, I saw (Mario) Lemieux, I saw (Guy) Lafleur," Gretzky said. "This kid is special."Gretzky - who earlier this month was named vice-chair of Oilers Entertainment Group - will now have the opportunity to observe McDavid up close."Now, it's going to take time. He's still only 19," Gretzky continued. "But he has everything in place to become the best player in the National Hockey League and go on to win some championships for the Edmonton Oilers."By scoring six points in the first two games of the season, McDavid became the first Oilers player to do so since 1987. That feat was last accomplished by, of course, Gretzky. And on Monday, McDavid was named the NHL's first star of the week as a result.It's one of many accolades that Gretzky sees on McDavid's horizon, noting that championships are what separates the greats from the truly elite. Gretzky captained the Oilers to four Stanley Cups and believes McDavid has an exceptional opportunity to return hockey's Holy Grail to Edmonton for the first time since 1990."But what I'm saying is if you want to get that elite status where they say you're Bobby Orr or you're Jean Beliveau to me you've got to win a Stanley Cup," Gretzky said. "Winning a Stanley Cup is important and you should never lose sight of that fact."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In an all too familiar sight, the Pittsburgh Penguins iced a Sidney Crosby-less lineup on Monday night.With his latest absence from play, Crosby has now missed 164 regular-season games - or the equivalent of two full seasons - during his 12 years in the league. Now while his numbers still remain envious of onlookers of all sorts, one can't help but envision where exactly Crosby would sit if he had played each of those 164 matches.Crosby currently sits tied for 98th on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 938 points, in just 707 games, giving him a ridiculous 1.327 career points per game total.A quick calculation using his career points per game over 871 games - the amount of games he would have played - gives you 1,155 points, pushing him right up to 52nd all-time.However, given the way numbers can vary year to year, for various circumstances, to get a more accurate total, let's use each season's points per game total on its own to try and get a more accurate depiction of just where Crosby would be.YearGames PlayedGames MissedPointsProjected Points05-0681110210306-0779312012407-0853297211108-0977510310909-1081110911010-1141416613211-1222603713712-133612567413-1480210410614-15775848915-168028587Total7071629381 182Given this projection, Crosby would now slot 49th on the all-time scoring list. Though without this year counted, and Crosby just two points behind Rod Brind'Amour's 1,184 career points, one can assume Crosby would have hit two points in the first three games of the season, passing that mark.In all, Crosby sits with the fifth-highest points per game total in NHL history, behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Bobby Orr.Sid could very well sit among those men when his career concludes, it will just be whether he can stay in the lineup or not.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As defenseman Jacob Trouba awaits his next contract, that hasn't stopped the Winnipeg Jets faithful from getting in a few digs of their own.Versus the Boston Bruins on Monday, a fan was shown with a clever sign reading, "I made more (money) than Trouba this week."The restricted free agent remains unsigned, as he hopes for a trade out of the Manitoba capital. Trouba must sign by Dec. 1 in order to play this season.According his agent, Trouba seeks an opportunity where he can play top minutes on the right-hand side - something that isn't available in Winnipeg behind Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers.Trouba, 22, scored six goals and 15 assists last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuukka Rask has never had a better night, that is at least offensively.In addition to making 34 saves against 35 shots in a win over the Winnipeg Jets, the Boston Bruins netminder became the first in franchise history to pick up two assists in a regular-season game."Pretty sweet," Rask said when asked about the stat quirk, according to Finnish reporter Sami Hoffren.His helpers came on goals from David Pastrnak, who upped his total to four, and Zdeno Chara, who flipped his first into an empty net.Rask is making advances in other, much more conventional categories in the club's record book. With a strong season, he could surpass Tim Thomas for fourth all time in wins, and perhaps move into second in shutouts behind Tiny Thompson.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former NHL captain has chimed in on the Edmonton Oilers decision to cancel a mandated day off.A recently retired Willie Mitchell, who donned the "C" for the Florida Panthers for two seasons, took exception to it, empathizing both with young Connor McDavid and with players who had to put off family time in lieu of practice.

For the first time in his career, Mike Green forced the headwear onto the ice.The Detroit Red Wings defenseman, who topped out at seven goals last season in his first in Motown, recorded his first career hat trick Monday night in a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Gabriel Landeskog displayed some crazy hand-eye coordination on this overtime goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.The Colorado Avalanche captain tracked the puck after it deflected off Kris Letang's stick, deftly directing it over Marc-Andre Fleury and into the net.The goal was Landeskog's second of the game, while the Avalanche improved to 2-0-0 under new head coach Jared Bednar.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The captain continues to steer the ship in the right direction.Fresh out of the penalty box, Blake Wheeler kept up his goal-per-game pace to start the season by completely freezing Tuukka Rask on this breakaway opportunity.It was the third goal of the season for the Winnipeg Jets locker room leader, made all the sweeter by coming against the team that traded him back in 2011.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings took a moment to honor the late, great Gordie Howe on Monday during the final regular-season opener to be played at Joe Louis Arena.

The NHL's incoming franchise has scooped up the creator of fans' go-to source for player contract and salary cap information.Tom Poraszka, founder of popular salary information website General Fanager, has been hired by Las Vegas as a hockey operations analyst.Poraszka left this message thanking General Fanager users:

Losing in the Stanley Cup Final for a second time as an NHL head coach, Pete DeBoer knows better than most that he is prepared to withstand the adversity that presents itself to a team returning after a long, successful, but ultimately disappointing postseason run.That's not because he's wiser. It's because this time, coach actually has a fighting chance."I learned you don't let Kovalchuk and Parise leave," DeBoer told Yahoo!'s Greg Wyshynski when asked about what he can take from his close call with the New Jersey Devils in 2012."That's what I learned."His two leading scorers that year, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, combined for 68 goals and 152 points, or overall production comparable to San Jose's two leading point getters last year - Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton.But when assessing San Jose's chances in its second season under DeBoer, it's boosted by much more than its returning Joes. Avoiding the talent drain all together, every significant piece from last year's run to the Stanley Cup Final - San Jose's first in franchise history - remains at DeBoer's disposal. And unlike most contenders, management was actually able to augment the operation over the summer.So following a debut season that saw him do something that his respected predecessor, Todd McLellan, couldn't, as he uncovered a formula that worked for a talented, perpetually underachieving core, DeBoer has a chance to shake things up further.It's been eight years since either a Stanley Cup champion or finalist returned to the big dance in the following season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby almost became the youngest goalie ever to earn 150 NHL wins.Instead, the Washington Capitals netminder will have to settle for third-youngest after reaching the mark in his 246th career game - a win over the New York Islanders this past Saturday.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Jonas Gustavsson will not be in the lineup when the team takes on the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, reports Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.The Oilers are expected to recall goalie Laurent Brossoit from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. The 23-year-old appeared in five games with the Oilers last season, posting an unspectacular 0-4-0 record and .873 save percentage.Coach Todd McLellan has not yet confirmed if netminder Cam Talbot will get the start against the Hurricanes. Talbot was pulled in Sunday's game against the Buffalo Sabres after allowing six goals on 23 shots.Gustavsson filled in for Talbot versus the Sabres, but was pulled from the game by the NHL's new concussion spotters after Edmonton blue-liner Adam Larsson fell backward and landed on the goaltender's head.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have assigned defenseman Zbynek Michalek to the AHL, the team announced Monday.Michalek, 33, was placed on waivers earlier this month, going unclaimed. The team then had a 30-day window to send him to the minors before he would require waivers again. The Coyotes ultimately opted to assign him to their AHL club, the Tucson Roadrunners.Michalek signed with Arizona as a free agent in 2015 and appeared in 70 games with the Coyotes last season, scoring seven points. He previously played with the Coyotes from 2005-10, and again from 2012-15 prior to a trade that sent him to the St. Louis Blues.The Czech defender has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $3.2-million cap hit.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A slow start to the season means rapid change for the Anaheim Ducks, as the team has reportedly waived forward Mason Raymond.Raymond, 31, has been held pointless through the team's first three games, in which the Ducks have posted an 0-2-1 record.Raymond signed with the Ducks in the offseason after appearing in 29 games with the Calgary Flames last year.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chalk up another accolade for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The superstar center was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday, after scoring six points in three games to open the season. McDavid notched two goals, including the game-winner, in the team's season opener against the rival Calgary Flames.Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, was named the league's second star of the week. The 19-year-old had a record-breaking debut, scoring four goals in his first NHL game. Matthews notched the fourth tally with three seconds remaining in just the second period.Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo has been named the NHL's third star of the week. The 37-year-old grabbed a pair of wins to start the season, posting a .957 save percentage through two games. His second win marked the 438th victory of his career, pushing him past Jacques Plante for sixth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price's return will have to wait, as Montreal Canadiens backup goaltender Al Montoya has confirmed he will start the team's home opener Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Price, the 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, missed the Canadiens' first two games of the season due to the flu. He resumed skating Monday.It's unknown whether Price will serve as backup Tuesday. Goalie Charlie Lindgren remains on the roster.

Whether it be a combination of luck, sucking up to authority, or even skill, some players just have a knack of getting calls to go their way.With goals and power plays becoming such a valuable commodity in the current NHL, players must do what they can to give themselves and their teams an edge.Here are three players who have managed to get the benefit of the doubt more often than not:Sidney CrosbyWhile Sidney Crosby holds the title as the most skilled player in the world, many are also well aware that he's not above complaining to get his way.Sure, it's not uncommon to see Crosby pleading for calls from the referees, but that's a byproduct of his competitive nature and never-ending desire to give his team any advantage he can.When you also hold the title as the most skilled player in the game, you tend to get a pass - just ask Kerry Fraser and members of the 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs.The special treatment Crosby sometimes receives certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by his recent opponents - just ask San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture.Mike SmithMike Smith might not be the superstar that's given the benefit of the doubt like Crosby, but you could definitely say he's guilty of on-ice fraud.Smith has had his fair share of calls go his way, and on multiple occasions has even had the luxury of goals being called off - seemingly for no reason - after being run into by opposing players.However, a few YouTube searches will show that Smith has a suspiciously high amount of collisions occur when he leaves his net to play the puck, with more than one resulting in him doing a complete 360 upon contact.Let's just say it certainly raises skepticism.Henrik LundqvistIt must be a goalie thing.If anyone is to be given special treatment, one would assume it would be a King, no?While Lundqivst is undoubtedly among the best puck-stoppers in the game, over the years he's developed another skill: acting.Life as a goalie in the NHL is anything but easy, and run-ins and collisions are sure to happen, but they seem to happen much more frequently to Lundqvist. However - much like Smith - closer looks show that, at times, what appears to be goalie interference is nothing more than Henrik's Oscar-worthy acting skills.But hey, whatever works.Related: 3 NBA players that are above the lawCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the end of an era for the Detroit Red Wings.As the team plays its home opener Monday, it marks the beginning of the final chapter at the iconic Joe Louis Arena - home to the Red Wings since 1979.The team is set to move into its new home next season, the Little Caesars Arena, but will first bask in the final year at The Joe, the old barn that oversaw the Red Wings become the NHL's model of success.Under the tutelage of general manager Ken Holland, at the helm since 1997, the Red Wings have established a winning culture, as evidenced by the club's 25 straight postseason berths, including four Stanley Cup wins over that time.The Joe has also been the only home to team owner Mike Ilitch, who bought the Red Wings in 1982. Under his watch, the Red Wings have missed the postseason on just three occasions.“It just had a special feeling, that the crowd was going to help you as much as they could,” Scotty Bowman told Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News.Bowman, of course, is the legendary bench boss who coached the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships.The first Cup, in 1997, ended a 42-year drought for the Red Wings. The next, in 1998, stands as the NHL's most recent back-to-back championship. He won his third with the Red Wings in 2002, and captured a fourth in 2008 as part of Detroit's front office.In addition to Stanley Cups, Red Wings fans have witnessed many a star grace The Joe over the years, from former captain Steve Yzerman to elite blue-liner Niklas Lidstrom, as well as star forwards Sergei Fedorov and the recently departed Pavel Datsyuk.On Monday, the Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators in what will be their final home opener at The Joe. No doubt the franchise that defined excellence will look to begin its "Farewell Season" on the right note.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Monday, October 17:Line Stacks

Pavel Buchnevich will not be in the lineup when the New York Rangers face the San Jose Sharks on Monday.The Russian-born forward has been sidelined with back spasms, the team announced.Buchnevich, 21, is in his rookie campaign and has recorded one assist through two games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's new concussion spotters were put to work Sunday night.While taking in the game between the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, the crew called in Oilers goalie Jonas Gustavsson as a precaution."It was phoned in to our trainer - he had to go out," said Oilers coach Todd McLellan.Gustavsson had been sprawled out when Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson fell backward, landing on the netminder's head and back.The Oilers bench was soon informed that Gustavsson needed to leave the game to undergo the NHL's concussion protocol.The move returned Cam Talbot to the Edmonton crease, who had been pulled after allowing four goals midway through the game. He allowed two more in the third period as the Oilers went on to a 6-2 loss.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday, theScore's NHL editors will shine a light on three teams and three players that made headlines - for good or bad reasons - over the past seven days. Welcome to "The Power 3."Teams1. St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues reeled off three straight wins in four days to open the season, and the victories weren't against pushovers.St. Louis beat three teams that made the postseason last year: Chicago (away), Minnesota, and the Rangers. After allowing only 40 shots over their first two games, the Blues looked tired Saturday against New York, but backup goalie Carter Hutton made one hell of a first impression, stopping 33 of 35 shots in his debut with his new team.Even more encouraging is the play of Paul Stastny so far. After scoring only 10 goals last season, and failing to hit the 50-point mark for the second straight season with St. Louis, he now has two goals and four assists in three games.If this is Ken Hitchcock's final season, it appears the Blues are hell-bent on making it count.2. Edmonton OilersIf the playoffs began Monday, the Edmonton Oilers would be taking part. And that's something, yeah.In all seriousness, while the club played a stinker Sunday against Buffalo, the fact remains: Edmonton has the league's highest-octane offense, with 14 goals through three games.Having that Connor McDavid guy certainly helps, and joining him in the top 10 in league scoring are Leon Draisaitl (five points) and Jordan Eberle (four points). Sure, it's early, but when you're the Oilers, you take any and all positives you can get your hands on.Cam Talbot hasn't been good yet, but the silver lining is that he can't be much worse than he was Sunday against the Sabres. The Oilers remain one of the more fascinating teams to watch. They even canceled their day off!3. Pittsburgh PenguinsNo Sidney Crosby, no problem. Not yet, at least.The Pittsburgh Penguins picked up where they left off last season, winning back-to-back games to open their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Like the Blues, the Pens beat a couple of very good teams in their archrival Capitals and Ducks.While all signs point to Crosby's latest concussion not being too serious, any head injury to No. 87 is enough to give anyone involved in hockey - whether professionally or as a fan - pause. And that means questions about the captain's health won't subside until he's back playing in games that matter.Let's face it: Whether the Penguins are winning or not, Sid is missed.Players1. Auston MatthewsObviously.Four is the magic number. Four goals in Auston Matthews' first two periods of NHL action, and now, none in his last four.How the kid responds to adversity will be one of the more interesting storylines to watch, because make no mistake, they're the Toronto Maple Leafs, and adversity is in their blood.2. Richard PanikIf you had Richard Panik being tied for the league lead in goals through the first five nights of the season, you're lying.Panik has always teased with his speed and skill, and after stints in Tampa Bay and Toronto, it would be very Chicago for Panik - only 25 - to find a permanent and productive home with the Blackhawks. He's making only $875,000 and is a restricted free agent in July.3. Marc-Andre FleuryWhatever, Matt Murray.Marc-Andre Fleury is back in the Penguins' net to start the season, and he looks like the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender that he is.The 31-year-old, whose days in Pittsburgh appear numbered due to financial reasons and the coming expansion draft, is the No. 1 until Murray returns from a broken hand, and, well, who knows what happens then.Fleury's stopped 73 of 77 shots he's faced so far. It's a busy week for Pittsburgh, with four games in six nights, beginning Monday against Colorado, which means it's a busy - and important - week for Fleury.Honorable Mentions

Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen may be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday.After a collision with Carolina Hurricanes forward Joakim Nordstrom in the third period Sunday, Virtanen took finishing his check too far, slamming Nordstrom's head into the boards as Nordstrom was sliding helplessly on the ice.No penalty was called on the play. The 'Canes blew a 3-0 lead and lost 4-3 in overtime.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are talking about practice. And the game.A 6-2 spanking at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, in particular. And while the team was supposed to be off Monday after games Friday and Sunday, that's no longer the case:

The Edmonton Oilers experienced their first taste of defeat in the young 2016-17 season on Sunday, a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres.Nothing went right for Todd McLellan's club, the poor performance highlighted by a slapshot from center ice that fooled goaltender Cam Talbot, ultimately proving to be the game-winning goal.Following the loss, McLellan didn't hold back his disappointment."We have some foundation and fabric things that we have to continue to fix. Stupidity is one of them," McLellan said postgame, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector."We just got kicked right between the legs and we deserved it," he added.The stupidity comment was directed at forward Benoit Pouliot, who was benched for the final two periods after committing two penalties, bringing him to a total of six minor infractions through only three games.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Ryan O'Reilly had a career-high four points (two goals and two assists) and the Buffalo Sabres pounded the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 on Sunday night for their first victory of the season.Brian Gionta also scored twice, and Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson had Buffalo's other goals. Robin Lehner made 31 saves.Benoit Pouliot and Milan Lucic scored for the Oilers, who had won back-to-back games before the loss.Cam Talbot stopped 17 shots for Edmonton. Jonas Gustavsson relieved Talbot in the second period and stopped the only shot he faced before exiting with an injury about 10 minutes later.Buffalo started the scoring 2:37 into the first period when Sam Reinhart made a nice feed across to Okposo and he beat Talbot for his first as a Sabre.The Sabres went up 2-0 7:14 in. Okposo made a great pass while on the power play to O'Reilly at the back door.Edmonton got one back with 2:40 left in the opening frame when the rebound from Zack Kassian's shot went off the leg of a hard-charging Pouliot and past Lehner.The Oilers tied the game with 1:00 left in the period when the big rebound from Leon Draisaitl's shot came out to Lucic, who scored his first goal as an Oiler and the 400th point of his career.Buffalo got a freebie 3:53 into the second when O'Reilly took a shot just from Buffalo's side of center that Talbot badly misjudged and ended up tipping into his own net.The Sabres restored their two-goal lead midway through the second when Gionta tipped in Johan Larsson's point shot, prompting Edmonton to bring in Gustavsson.With Talbot back in net, the Sabres made it 5-2 just 37 seconds into the third. Gionta tucked a shot between Talbot's legs on Buffalo's 16th shot of the game.The Sabres kept it coming with Moulson's power-play goal four minutes later.NOTES: The Sabres were without a pair of big-name players up front with center Jack Eichel out an expected six to eight weeks with an ankle sprain and forward Evander Kane likely out several weeks with broken ribs. ... Buffalo did get a boost from the return of Okposo, as the free agent signing played his first game after missing their opener with a sore knee. Buffalo defenseman Dmitry Kulikov also made his debut.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs supporters should send thank you cards to the Arizona Coyotes. At least Shane Doan thinks so.Matthews' coming out party in his first NHL game Wednesday, when he scored four goals, has hockey folks out in Arizona walking with their heads a bit higher. The 18-year-old grew up in Scottsdale and attended Coyotes games as a child, which instilled in him a passion for the game."Hey, without the Coyotes playing here, Auston wouldn't be playing hockey," Arizona captain Doan told azcentral sports' Dan Bickley. "He'd be playing some other sports. But because the Coyotes were here, he wanted to play, he got the opportunity to play, and he's an amazing athlete."Doan believes Matthews' profile is only going to be that much bigger because he now plays for the rebuilding Maple Leafs in Toronto. But that's a good thing, better for the sport, and better for grassroots hockey in Arizona."The center of hockey is in Toronto. They push it as hard as they can. If he played for us or in Florida and scored four goals, it would've been an incredible story. But to do it for Toronto? That's unbelievable, and it's a big boost to everything that's happening with hockey in Arizona."Arizona has long been criticized as one of hockey's failed expansion ventures, but Doan believes a loyal fan base has developed in the desert over the years. And if one of the game's brightest stars is from Scottsdale, hockey's only going to grow in the area.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston, meet Cameron Hughes.Hughes was drafted 165th overall in 2015, and is in his third season as a member of the University of Wisconsin Badgers.That's only the 20-year-old's ninth goal at the NCAA level, but there's clearly some magic in that stick.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Tuukka Time once again for the Boston Bruins.The Bruins were forced to sit Tuukka Rask for Saturday's loss in Toronto after the goalie experienced soreness following a season-opening win Thursday in Columbus.Rask, however, seems ready to return for Monday's contest in Winnipeg.

The Buffalo Sabres' big offseason free-agent signing appears ready to step into the lineup.Kyle Okposo, who missed the season opener with a bruised knee, skated Saturday with Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly, and is expected to make his regular-season debut with the club Sunday in Edmonton.Buffalo's equipment manager posted a photo from the Oilers' new visitors locker room in advance of the game, and Okposo's No. 21 can be seen hanging on the left with an alternate captain's "A" on the left shoulder.

Auston Matthews is making an immediate impact both on and off the ice.While his jersey wasn't made available for purchase until after his four-goal debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it has apparently been flying off the shelves in the days since.

Martin Hanzal wants to focus on the games at hand.The Arizona Coyotes center is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and after being unable to agree on a contract extension prior to opening night, seems ready to shelve talks until the end of 2016-17."I’ll just probably shut (negotiations) down from my side and just keep focusing on hockey because it will be a distraction for me," Hanzal said, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "I just want to focus on hockey and make sure I can do everything to help the team win."Hanzal recorded a goal and an assist in Saturday's season-opening win over Philadelphia, and there appears to be mutual interest in terms of keeping him in Arizona."We continue to chat with Marty and his representative. I don’t think anything’s imminent right now," general manager John Chayke said at the end of training camp. "Having said that, Marty’s a big part of our team and a good player and he’s made us aware that he’d like to be back here, so just trying to find something that makes sense for everybody."Hanzal, 29, is in the final season of a five-year deal that carries an average annual valuation of $3.1 million.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel just can't seem to get on the ice at the same time.The top two picks from the 2015 NHL Draft were scheduled to go head to head Sunday with Eichel's Buffalo Sabres in Edmonton to play McDavid's Oilers.Eichel, however, sprained his ankle prior to the season opener, meaning he'll be forced to sit this one out, just as McDavid was last season while sidelined for several months with a broken collarbone.Having suffered through the long-term injury as a rookie, McDavid can certainly empathize with Eichel's plight."It’s not fun. It’s really hard," McDavid said, per Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. "It’s harder mentally than physically. The injury heals."It’s about coming back and not missing a beat. That’s the main thing. It’s a credit to the doctors and the team around you but it’s also keeping yourself in shape. You’re looking at two months and it’s hard to stay focused."After Sunday's game, Eichel and McDavid will have both played in only one of the three scheduled games between their respective NHL clubs, a 2-1 win for the Oilers in Buffalo on March 1 in which McDavid scored both goals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, October 16:Line Stacks

A trio of Toronto Maple Leafs rookies combined to make NHL history over the course of the team's first two games of the season.Following Auston Matthews' four-goal performance in Ottawa on opening night (which accounted for all of Toronto's goals that game), it was Connor Brown and Mitch Marner who scored the first two goals Saturday against Boston.Related - Watch: Marner scores 1st NHL goalAs a result, the Maple Leafs are the first team in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68) to have rookies score each of their first six goals in a season, according to Elias Sports.James van Riemsdyk scored Toronto's third goal in the 4-1 win over the Bruins to end the streak, and while Matthews deserves the lion's share of the credit, it's clear the 2016-17 Maple Leafs are no one-man show.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladimir Tarasenko appears unmoved by his team's perfect start to the new NHL season.The St. Louis Blues winger offered the kind of response one would hope for in October following a win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

DENVER - Joe Colborne had three goals for his first NHL hat trick, Colorado withstood a 6-on-4 opportunity over the final 46 seconds, and the Avalanche held off the Dallas Stars 6-5 on Saturday night.Trailing 2-0 early, Colborne scored three of Colorado's next five goals to build a 5-2 lead. Carl Soderberg and Nathan MacKinnon also scored during the stretch, and Tyson Barrie added an insurance goal in the third period to kick off the Jared Bednar Era in winning fashion.Bednar took over for Patrick Roy after the Hall of Fame goaltender-turned-coach surprisingly stepped away two months ago.Tyler Seguin had two goals for the Stars, while Devin Shore, Jamie Benn, and Brett Ritchie also scored.Dallas pulled starter Antti Niemi at 7:05 of the second period after allowing five goals. Kari Lehtonen slowed the Avalanche's potent offensive attack so the Stars could work their way back into the game.Barrie scored a goal that appeared to bounce off the skate of Stephen Johns and past Lehtonen to make it 6-4. Soon after, Ritchie made it a one-goal game when he slid a shot past Semyon Varlamov.Blake Comeau was called for slashing with 1:56 remaining. The Stars pulled Lehtonen, but couldn't get anything past Varlamov.The Avalanche certainly had ample opportunities to gain some separation in the third period. A shot by Andreas Martinsen clanged off the post. Later, Fedor Tyutin's slap shot appeared to go in and the horn sounded. But the puck actually hit the outside of the net. And later, Mikhail Grigorenko had a shot roll along the mouth of the goal before veering just wide.Colborne signed with the Avalanche as a free agent in July after a 19-goal, 25-assist season with Calgary. He's a fan favorite given that he played collegiately down the road at the University of Denver.Bednar was a career minor leaguer - as a defenseman and then as a coach - before being hired by Colorado on Aug. 25. The 44-year-old led the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League to the Calder Cup last season.His style may be even more up-tempo than the version Roy implemented. Colorado outshot Dallas 33-28.It was a fast-paced first period filled with plenty of scoring. The Stars got things rolling early when Seguin scored a power play goal 43 seconds into the game. Shore added another 6:17 later and the Stars were in business with a 2-0 lead.That's when things got a little wild. There was a scrum in front of the Stars goal and defenseman Patrik Nemeth sprawled out on the ice to keep it out of the net. The puck appeared to go in, but the ruling kept changing: No goal, goal, an awarded penalty shot to the Avalanche, a review where the goal was re-awarded. Finally, another review and the goal really did count.In the end, Colborne was credited with the score. He added another 7:04 later.The Avalanche haven't garnered much early respect, with a majority of prognosticators predicting they'll finish outside of the playoff picture.''People can say what they want,'' said Matt Duchene, who will serve as an alternate captain this season. ''Go out there and prove them wrong - that's our job.''Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Marner let loose after scoring the first goal of his NHL career, and his reaction was almost as memorable as the goal itself.The Toronto Maple Leafs rookie erupted with a series of fist pumps after accomplishing his milestone midway through the first period in an eventual 4-1 victory Saturday over the Boston Bruins."The excitement really takes over your body," he told TSN's Mark Masters after the game. "It was a special moment for me and definitely a thing I will remember for the rest of my life."Marner accomplished the feat in his second career game that was also the Leafs' home opener.Related: Marner's mom was in washroom for his 1st NHL goalHis teammates knew exactly what he was doing in the celebration."That's straight from the (OHL's) London Knights right there," Nazem Kadri said. "I know a thing or two about that."Kadri played for the Knights from 2008-2010, while Marner spent three seasons with the junior club beginning in 2013.Tyler Bozak joked he might ask Marner to cool it on future goal reactions."He was really excited after that goal," Bozak said. "I'll have to tone him down when he gets some more."If Marner's second game was any indication, there should plenty more opportunities to celebrate going forward.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When nature calls, you have to accept the charges, even if you risk missing a milestone.Mitch Marner's mother, Bonnie, attended his game Saturday against the Boston Bruins with her husband, Paul, but she didn't see their son's first career NHL goal because she was using the washroom."That's definitely going to be something I can joke around with her about," Mitch told TSN's Mark Masters after the game.He scored the memorable marker on a slick wrist shot in the first period.At least Bonnie got to celebrate, eventually.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks may have found an answer on the wing, as forward Richard Panik scored three goals in a game for the first time in his NHL career in a 5-3 win Saturday over the Nashville Predators.Panik put his team ahead 3-0 in the first frame, and then grabbed a pair of goals in the third period. All three goals came at even strength.The winger has recorded at least one point all three games this season.The 25-year-old played 30 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring six goals and two assists after joining the team via a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.