The New York Rangers' blue line took a hit Saturday, as defenseman Dan Girardi suffered a hip flexor injury and is "more than day to day," according to coach Alain Vigneault.It's unclear how he suffered the injury.Girardi played 7:56 in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is not the debut Loui Eriksson had in mind.The Vancouver Canucks' prized offseason acquisition inadvertently put the puck in his own net from center ice Saturday night on an attempted pass to Erik Gudbranson with goaltender Ryan Miller pulled on a delayed penalty.Calgary Flames defenseman Brett Kulak was initially credited with his first NHL goal on the play, but it was later awarded to Troy Brouwer.The Canucks signed Eriksson to a six-year, $36-million deal on July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Colborne didn't wait long to make an impression with his new team.The Colorado Avalanche forward scored three goals in Saturday's season opener against the Dallas Stars, putting in the third tally 7:05 into the second frame.Colborne joined the Avalanche as a free agent in the offseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings pushed Roberto Luongo into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.With his 438th win, the Florida Panthers goalie moved past the legendary Jacques Plante. Luongo now sits just 10 victories shy of passing Terry Sawchuk.Goalie Games WinsMartin Brodeur1266691Patrick Roy1029551Ed Belfour963484Curtis Joseph943454Terry Sawchuk971447Roberto Luongo928438Jacques Plante837437The 37-year-old began his career in 1999, and has played for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, and in two stints with the Panthers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a reason Jonathan Bernier is a backup goalie.The Anaheim Ducks netminder had trouble handing off the puck to Cam Fowler behind his net, allowing the Pittsburgh Penguins to swoop in and score an easy one Saturday night.Ducks starter John Gibson got the night off after allowing four goals in a loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hometown boy Mitch Marner scored his first NHL goal in his first game on home ice.The Toronto Maple Leafs winger found the back of the net Saturday against Boston's Anton Khudobin with a nifty wrist shot.Marner was selected fourth overall in 2015. He scored 116 points last season with the OHL's London Knights.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have suspended forward Gregory Campbell for failing to report to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen confirmed to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch on Saturday night.Campbell was notified by letter Saturday afternoon, according to the GM. The 32-year-old was assigned to Cleveland after clearing waivers earlier in the week.Kekalainen said he tried to trade Campbell before putting him on waivers, and will continue to try to find him a new home.The Blue Jackets signed Campbell to a two-year, $3-million deal in the summer of 2015. They won't have to pay the remaining $1.3 million that would have been owed to him this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James van Riemdsyk is giving up his number to accommodate a legend.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward switched to No. 25 after his No. 21 was retired for Borje Salming, the club announced Saturday night.All 16 of the Leafs' previously honored numbers, plus Dave Keon's No. 14, were retired in a pregame ceremony before Toronto faced off against the Boston Bruins.It will be the first time in five seasons that Van Riemsdyk has won a number other than 21, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs broke with tradition Saturday, announcing that they've retired the jerseys of all 16 previously honored players.Player NumberJohnny Bower1Turk Broda1Hap Day4Red Kelly4King Clancy7Tim Horton7Charlie Conacher9Ted Kennedy9Syl Apps10George Armstrong10Mats Sundin13Wendel Clark17Borje Salming21Darryl Sittler27Frank Mahovlich27Doug Gilmour93Dave Keon's No. 14 was also retired Saturday. Keon was part of the Maple Leafs from 1960 to 1975, serving as captain from 1969-75. He won four Stanley Cups with the team and was named playoff MVP in 1967.As part of the move, Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk switched from No. 21, which was honored for defenseman Borje Salming, and will now wear No. 25.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid might be a little too humble.The Edmonton Oilers star and 2015 No. 1 overall pick was in a self-deprecating mood Saturday when asked about 2016 top selection and Team North America teammate Auston Matthews' historic NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the week."As a rookie, it's tough to come into the league unless you're Auston Matthews," McDavid told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "For us normal people, it's hard."Matthews became the first player in NHL history to score four goals in a debut Wednesday in an overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators.McDavid holds the early league points lead with six. His second straight three-point effort Friday night made him the first Oilers player with six or more points through the first two games of the season since Wayne Gretzky in 1987-88.Don't sell yourself too short, Connor.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets might be forced to suspend Gregory Campbell.The veteran forward's agent, Pat Morris, said on Saturday that Campbell won't report to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters after being waived by the NHL club Tuesday, reports Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch."Gregory will not be reporting, no," Morris said. "He's going to continue to skate on his own and ponder his future, but he's not going to play in the American (Hockey) League and take a position away from a young player."He was a young player at one point in time, and older players didn't come in and take his position away. He doesn't want to do that."Morris said Campbell is aware that if Blue Jackets suspend him, they won't be responsible for his $1.3-million salary. The agent also clarified his client hasn't demanded a trade."He's not kicking and screaming and demanding a trade, but I'll keep calling teams, like I have been. And if somebody who plays like Gregory Campbell gets hurt, then Gregory Campbell will be ready if they need somebody like him in the organization."Morris said Campbell hasn't considered playing in Europe, and he's planning to go home to Kitchener, Ontario to continue skating on his own while he awaits word on his future.The Blue Jackets signed Campbell to a two-year, $3-million deal on July 1, 2015. The 32-year-old registered only 11 points while racking up 78 penalty minutes in 82 games last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Dennis Wideman won't be in the lineup Saturday when the Calgary Flames take on the Vancouver Canucks, reports Sportsnet's Dave Randorf.Wideman, 33, has played in both Flames games this season, posting a goal and a plus-one rating.Brett Kulak will draw into the lineup in his place. The 22-year-old has appeared in nine NHL games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mathew Barzal will make his NHL debut Saturday, taking the place of Anthony Beauvillier in the New York Islanders lineup versus the Washington Capitals.Barzal will be play down the middle, shifting Ryan Strome to wing, and is also expected to see time on the top power-play unit, according to Newsday's Arthur Staple.Beauvillier, who like Barzal was chosen in the first round in 2015, picked up an assist in a little less than 11 minutes in Thursday's loss to the New York Rangers.The higher of the two picks, Barzal is considered more of a dynamic offensive player. He scored 27 goals and 88 points in 58 games last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a season in which the Toronto Maple Leafs are making a point to appreciate their history, rookie Mitch Marner requires no prompting.The 19-year-old from nearby Markham, Ontario explained Saturday in advance of his home debut that the Maple Leafs legends he grew up watching - many of whom were named to the franchise's top-100 players list revealed Friday - were the inspiration behind getting him to this stage.Now that he's here, he wants to continue that tradition."I think just watching every (Maple Leafs) game, it inspired me to want to be a hockey player," Marner said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "Watching Dougie Gilmour, Mats Sundin, guys like that come into this city and they're a lead role model to kids."Now it's my time to try and be a role model for younger kids and just try and make sure their goal is to play in the NHL one day."A student of hockey history and the Maple Leafs, Marner already knows he'll make memories on Saturday that he'll cherish for the rest of his life."For me personally (hearing my name introduced is) going to be kind of breathtaking. I figure for my friends and parents in the crowd, it's going to be pretty crazy for them too. It's going to be a night that's going to be remembered for a long time."Marner didn't score four goals like fellow rookie Auston Matthews, but still impressed in Toronto's season opener in Ottawa. He created ample offensive chances and rang a shot off the bar within his first few shifts.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is still feeling the effects of a long contract holdout.The 23-year-old - who spent the entire summer as a restricted free agent before coming to terms earlier this week on a three-year deal - isn't afraid to admit he's still shaking out the cobwebs."I feel a little rusty," Kucherov said, following Tampa Bay's 6-4 season-opening victory over the Detroit Red Wings, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times."I didn't practice with this kind of speed, I didn't practice with this kind of players at home. It's been hard. I feel like my legs were heavy and my hands were bad. I wasn't happy with the way I played."Kucherov led the Lightning in scoring during both the regular season and playoffs last year. And despite missing training camp this season, he took part in last month's World Cup of Hockey after training in his native Russia.Nonetheless, after going pointless in the first game of the season, Kucherov told Smith he feels ready to go ahead of the team's clash with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.Hey, it's just one game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From the press box to the top line.Speedy Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou will skate on the No. 1 unit with Frans Nielsen and Henrik Zetterberg on Saturday versus the Florida Panthers after he was scratched for the club's loss on opening night to the Tampa Bay Lightning."Without totally changing things, we want to keep tinkering and trying to just find the best combinations," head coach Jeff Blashill told Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News. "We think we've got good depth up front. Let's tinker as we need to tinker to get the most out of every line."Athanasiou provided an unexpected scoring punch in his minutes last season, scoring nine goals and 14 points in 37 games. He beat out Anthony Mantha for a spot on the roster.Steve Ott was chosen in favor of Athanasiou versus the Bolts, a decision that drew the ire of many fans. It's expected that the fourth-liner will sit versus the Panthers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry will make his season debut on Saturday.The 28-year-old missed the club's season opener against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday as he dealt with a knee injury, but will suit up when the Canadiens visit the Ottawa Senators.In other news, forward Sven Andrighetto cleared waivers on Saturday and was assigned to the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League.The move is believed to have been in order to make room for Petry's return to the lineup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh hey look, Connor McDavid has provided another reason to attach his name to Wayne Gretzky's.McDavid bagged his sixth point of the season as the Edmonton Oilers swept their season-opening home-and-home series with the Calgary Flames on Friday night, becoming the first Oilers player since Gretzky in 1987-88 to collect six-plus points through two games, according to NHL Public Relations.The early NHL scoring leader claimed another goal on a beautiful backhand deke during a breakaway try - using a different move on Brian Elliott than the one he scored with on a penalty shot in the season opener - also adding assists on goals from Jordan Eberle and Leon Draisaitl.Edmonton is 2-0 for the first time since 2010.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 Saturday, October 15:Triple Threat

With a nasty cut twisting from the middle of his cheek to his nostril, Shayne Gostisbehere was feeling fortunate.The Philadelphia Flyers defender escaped with a certainly pronounced but thankfully superficial facial wound after being sliced across the cheek by the skate of Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford on Saturday night."I kind of fell first and he just hit me," Gostisbehere said, according to CSN Philly's Tim Panaccio. "I kind of got lucky. It didn't get me too bad. No stitches, just a scrape. I was just thankful it wasn't worse."I'll take this any day for whatever could have happened."It's the first of what will likely be many seemingly unavoidable incidents of a similar nature this season. Hopefully all others can share in Gostisbehere's fortune.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A goal and cowboy celebration from P.K. Subban in his Nashville Predators debut. Punches exchanged between Jonathan Toews and James Neal. A win for the home side.And Annie was there to see it all from the best seat in the house - her nose perched just above the dasher.Check out this awesome moment captured by Associated Press reporter Jim Diamond, who noticed a yellow retriever sitting intently behind the glass in the background of a photograph he snapped of Roman Josi.

The Experts Series is a multi-part project which delves into the mindset of athletes who've reached the pinnacle of their profession, offering insight on the philosophy and fundamentals that led to their most memorable moments.​The MomentOn a November night in 2008, each Toronto Maple Leafs player took the ice with the same number on his back.The team was set to play the Chicago Blackhawks in an Original Six matchup, but the game was secondary to the ceremony that preceded it, as Wendel Clark's No. 17 jersey was raised to the rafters of the Air Canada Centre.At the midway point of the 1984-85 season, the Maple Leafs were 6-29-5. They'd finish the season having set new franchise marks for futility in wins (20), losses (52), and points (48).Their reward: Wendel Clark, the No. 1 overall selection in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.The payoff was immediate, as Clark led all rookies with 34 goals en route to a second-place finish in voting for the Calder Trophy.An instant crowd favorite at Maple Leaf Gardens, he was named team captain in 1991. By the 1992-93 season, the Leafs were setting franchise records in wins (44) and points (99). Their matchup against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the Campbell Conference finals that year marked what may have been the highest point the franchise has reached since last winning the Stanley Cup in 1967.To Clark, his success as captain had a lot to do with the players around him."When you have a great team around you, that definitely helps," Clark told theScore. "Being a captain, you still need other leaders with you to help, and come along. You need the team to do well, because if the team does well, then it looks like you're doing a better job. If the team doesn't do well, then sometimes you get more blame, because the team's not doing well. It all plays together as one, the whole team thing."The PhilosophyClark captained the Maple Leafs for three seasons from 1991-94. He knows as well as anyone what comes with wearing the "C" in Canada's biggest hockey market."As the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you're front and center. You're the focal piece, being a Canadian city, which any Canadian captain would face," Clark said. "A lot of times, when a captain is taking heat in Toronto, a lot of times he's not taking it personally, even though it may come across as being personal. It's just something that's part of the situation that you're going through."The captain may cut up the whole team. If the team's doing poorly, you're hard on the whole team, but you're going to do it through your spokesperson, who is the captain. So you have to make sure as the captain you're not taking everything that comes through you - wearing the 'C' - personally. Because a lot of the negative stuff can be meant to be towards the team. The team's not doing well, but being that you're the face, it's easy to blame the one person."Clark's best piece of advice for captains is to continue doing what earned them that designation in the first place."Everybody's got a different personality. Everybody's got a different way of handling themselves," Clark said. "My thing is, if the organization honored you by making you the captain - and that's how I felt, very honored - you had those qualities before you had the 'C' on your jersey."The big thing is you can't change who you are just because there's another letter on your jersey. You keep being yourself. You keep doing the things you've done that made them think you're acceptable to have that letter on your jersey. My big thing is: Don't change who you are."Previous editions of The Experts SeriesMike Weir on putting under pressure

CALGARY, Alberta - Connor McDavid came through with another big night and the Edmonton Oilers got another big win.McDavid had a goal and two assists for his second straight three-point game to lead the Oilers to a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday night.''We will be talking about him all year and for many years to come,'' Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said of his 19-year-old captain. ''You can have a game plan but he has all the skills and tools, a tool box that is second to none.''Leon Draisaitl had two goals and Jordan Eberle and Mark Letestu also scored to help the Oilers complete a sweep of the teams' season-opening home-and-home series. Cam Talbot finished with 32 saves.McDavid showcased his speed in the first period by getting behind the Flames' defenders for a breakaway and beating goalie Brian Elliott with a lightning-quick shot.''He's deadly off the rush,'' Flames defenseman Mark Giordano said. ''Again tonight, he capitalizes on his chances. He got a few breakaways. Power play, he made some nice plays. That's another big night for him.''McDavid helped set up Eberle's tying goal in the second period and Draisaitl's go-ahead score early in the third.On Draisaitl's tiebreaking power-play goal, McDavid patiently hung onto the puck in the high slot and started a tic-tac-toe sequence with a quick pass down low to Milan Lucic, who zipped the puck across the crease to Draisaitl for a tap-in.''I don't really know what to say. He's just phenomenal. He's just that good,'' Draisaitl said. ''He just makes something happen every single shift out of nothing where you think there's nothing going on and he just creates absolute top, Grade-A chances. He's very special.''Sean Monahan and Michael Frolik scored for the Flames, who fell to 0-5-1 in their last six home openers. Elliott stopped 24 shots.Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan said his team needs to tighten up defensively.''We're not giving up a ton of chances, we're just giving up real high quality chances and there's a big difference,'' said the first-year coach, who took over in the offseason after Bob Hartley was fired.About five minutes later, Dennis Wideman's turnover led to a short-handed breakaway for Letestu, who beat Elliott to make it 4-2.Jokipakka scored into top corner off a feed from Kris Versteeg to get Calgary back within one with 7:44 to go. However, the Flames couldn't complete the comeback as Draisaitl added an empty-netter with 1:20 left.Elliott, who has given up 10 goals on 55 shots through two games, said he wasn't sure how many odd-man rushes he faced throughout the game.''There were a lot,'' he said. ''I don't know if there was a count going, but we can't give those up. We have to keep the play in front of us a little bit, especially against a team where we know they're jumping at any opportunity.''Trailing 2-1 after a first period where they were outshot 24-12, Edmonton tied it 5:25 on the man advantage when Eberle knocked in a loose puck.Calgary got on the scoreboard 1:22 in with Monahan putting in a second rebound after Deryk Engelland hit a goal post and Johnny Gaudreau was stopped.McDavid tied it on his second breakaway of the period when he tore away from Mark Giordano and zipped a shot over Elliott's shoulder at 7:45.Frolik restored the lead with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the first when his shot from the sideboards slipped past Talbot, who didn't appear to see it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It didn't take long for Nashville Predators fans to catch a promising glimpse of their prized offseason acquisition.P.K. Subban wasted no time making himself at home during the season opener, rifling a slapshot past Corey Crawford for the Predators' first goal of the year.The 27-year-old blue-liner had a strong impact in the 3-2 win Friday night, which he believes is a positive step in moving beyond the storylines that engulfed his summer."I just look forward to being able to put all the crap that's happening in the media, off the ice, around us just away because we've got a good group of guys," Subban said postgame, according to Adam Vignan of The Tennessean. "I think if we're focused and the focus is on our team and not just on crap off the ice, I think we're going to have a lot of success. That's part of what I said in my speech after the game. Let's just focus on playing hockey and keep moving forward."Nashville has aspirations of a deep playoff run this season with Subban in the fold, and the team's off to a good start.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Hartman will "miss some time" with a lower-body injury, according to coach Joel Quenneville.Hartman was in the lineup Friday versus the Nashville Predators but did not return after the first period. Early on, he drew an assist on Marcus Kruger's goal to open the scoring.Hartman, 22, is expected to miss "more than a couple of games," according to Quenneville.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames must be dying to play someone, anyone, other than Connor McDavid.After torching his provincial rival for three points in the season opener on Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers captain picked up right where he left off, converting on yet another breakaway.Speed kills.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without defenseman Ryan Murray when the team faces the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch reports.Murray, 23, is sidelined after blocking a shot in the Blue Jackets' season opener Thursday against the Boston Bruins.Blue-liner Dalton Prout will draw into the lineup in place of Murray.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks defender Simon Despres will see a specialist after suffering from symptoms typically associated with a head injury in the absence of recent trauma, Ducks general manager Bob Murray said Friday."There's something wrong here and we've got to get to the bottom of it," he said, according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.Murray didn't say Despres had a concussion, but referenced the concerns from last season, when he missed half the year with a diagnosed concussion.Despres didn't take a shift in the third period in Anaheim's loss to the Dallas Stars on opening night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Scott's time in the limelight will last a little longer.Fans in attendance at tonight's Michigan Tech home opener will take part in the John Scott Night celebration, with Scott on hand for the event. Scott played at Michigan Tech from 2002-06.Scott made headlines last season when a fan vote pushed the hulking pugilist into the NHL All-Star game. Scott - who stands 6-foot-8 - has 286 career games to his credit, scoring 11 points over that time.Scott spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes before a surprise trade sent him to the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes rookie Dylan Strome may have to wait a little longer to make his NHL debut.According to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports, the 19-year-old, who skated as an extra at practice Friday, is unlikely to be in the lineup when the team opens its season Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

P.K. Subban is clearly ready to get his Nashville Predators career started.Related: Subban shares hype video ahead of Predators debutThe newest - and likely flashiest - Preds defenseman showed up to the club's season opener in a blue-and-gold suit, much to the delight of his new fans.

For his incredible debut, Auston Matthews has carved out his own section in the sportsbook.A series of odds catering directly to the Matthews superfan have been released, and you can start betting as early as Saturday when he makes his home debut as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.Here are some of the odds, courtesy Bodog:How many four-goal games will Matthews score in the 2016-17 season?GoalsOddsOver 1.511/1Under 1.51/50How many hat tricks will Matthews score in the 2016-17 season?Hat tricksOddsOver 1.53/2Under 1.51/2How many goals will Matthews score Saturday versus the Boston Bruins?GoalsOdds012/517/4211/2311/1430/1More than 475/1Will Matthews record a point Saturday versus the Boston Bruins?PointOddsYes1/1No5/7Will Matthews record an assist Saturday versus the Boston Bruins?AssistOddsYes2/1No1/3What's there to lose, Maple Leafs fans? Haven't you already won?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jared Bednar waited a long time to be in an NHL game. He'll finally get his chance when the Colorado Avalanche open their season against the Dallas Stars.Bednar, a career minor league player and coach, makes his debut behind Colorado's bench after his quick hire Aug. 25. Bednar brings championship experience from the minors, winning titles in the AHL and ECHL, but more important for the Avalanche he brings a different style after two disappointing seasons.Bednar's system emphasizes speed coupled with an aggressive, pressure game."I have a style of play that I think works in today's NHL game," Bednar told NHL.com. "I think we have to be an aggressive team. The game is getting faster every day and I think you have to play an up-tempo style. You have to attack. And that's not just offensively but defensively as well."Bednar has also stressed moving the puck out of the zone, so quick passes from the defensemen to the forwards to start the breakout. Colorado has spent too much time in its own end the past few seasons, which led to Avalanche goaltenders facing a lot of shots every game."We still go 'D' to 'D,'" defenseman Tyson Barrie told The Denver Post. "It's going to be 'D' to 'D' with a purpose, to get it in the forwards' hands."The Avalanche have reached the postseason once in the last six seasons -- in 2014, when Patrick Roy led Colorado to 112 points and the Central Division title in his first year as the coach. The team struggled with poor starts the next two years and missed the playoffs.Roy's abrupt resignation Aug. 11 forced an unexpected coaching search that snagged Bednar from the Columbus system. While Avalanche players said they were stunned by Roy's departure, they are embracing Bednar's system."It's great for me," 21-year-old center Nathan MacKinnon told The Denver Post. "I can just skate and not think so much. Be aggressive. I think the biggest thing is that if we're going to make mistakes, they're aggressive mistakes. We've been very passive the last couple of seasons."One thing that contributed to Colorado missing the playoffs the last two years was bad starts to those seasons. The Avalanche are hoping a 6-0 preseason portends a fast start to this year, similar to the 12-1 mark they had at the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign.It won't be easy against a Dallas team that won the Central Division last year and beat Anaheim 4-2 in its season opener on Thursday. The play of goalie Antti Niemi in the win, after a tough finish to last season, has the Stars feeling confident going into Saturday's game at Pepsi Center."I am really happy with the preseason and with all the practice we have done," Niemi told the Dallas Morning News. "I just want to keep doing the same thing here and not worry that this was the season opener."Niemi was 1-3 with a 3.29 goals-against average in the playoffs last season, but if Thursday is any indication he is back on track.He faced 17 shots in the first period against the Ducks and finished with 33 saves."I thought Antti was excellent," Stars coach Lindy Ruff told the Dallas Morning News. "That first period, we had some bad decisions, gave up some odd-numbered rushes, gave up three two-on-ones where he made real good saves."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally giving back.The club is planning the pregame ceremony to end all pregame ceremonies ahead of Saturday's home opener against the Boston Bruins, as the curtain rises in Toronto on the Maple Leafs' centennial season.Fans are being urged to be in their seats no later than 5:30 p.m. ET, and in order to make that happen, the Maple Leafs will gift those with a ticket a free beer courtesy of Molson Canadian.

Not good news for the Los Angeles Kings.Goaltender Jonathan Quick is dealing with a groin injury in the same area as a groin strain he suffered in 2013, which cost him two months, general manager Dean Lombardi confirmed Friday. The netminder is consulting with several doctors with respect to a plan for his recovery.Quick's on injured reserve, and is out long term.Jeff Zatkoff's the man in goal moving forward. He took over for Quick in the Kings' season opener, stopping 15-of-16 shots but taking a 2-1 loss against the San Jose Sharks.Quick posted save percentages of .918 in the past two seasons, starting 68 games last season and 71 in 2014-15. He's relied upon heavily in Los Angeles, so his loss is a big one.L.A. has a relatively slow start to its schedule, playing only nine games in October, but things ramp up in November. The Kings will play 14 games next month, including a five-game road trip through Canada, with a final stop in Denver.The Kings will face 11 teams that made the playoffs last season through Nov. 30.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks locked up Rickard Rakell on Friday, signing the restricted free agent forward to a six-year contract extension, as first reported by TSN's Bob McKenzie.The club didn't disclose financial details of the deal, but it's worth $22.8 million, according to McKenzie.Rakell scored 20 goals and 43 points in 72 games last year, establishing career highs across the board. He also led Anaheim in even-strength points rate, contributing 1.90 points per 60 minutes.With the six-year investment, the Ducks get another accurately valued and very reasonable number on their payroll. Rakell will earn just a shade more than Jakob Silfverberg, another young top-six forward locked up long term who contributed just slightly less offensively.But the deal almost certainly means another shoe will drop. Anaheim, which works on a budget, still has No. 1 defender Hampus Lindholm as an outstanding restricted free agent, and is currently listed just under the $74-million salary cap, according to General Fanager. Cam Fowler, another member of that talented blue line, is among names linked to a potential deal involving a big-money contract.Rakell, meanwhile, is still in Sweden and is not expected to be in the lineup for another two weeks as he sorts out visa issues.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, according to head coach Paul Maurice.Little left Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes following a collision with Bryan Bickell midway through the first period.The news is extra disheartening for Little, who entered the season after being shut down last February after suffering a fractured vertebrae from a hit by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman.According to Maurice, the team should have a better idea about the severity of the injury in a couple weeks.Little managed 17 goals and 42 points in 57 games last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dave Keon was chosen as the greatest player in the 100-year history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading the club's reveal of the "The One Hundred" on Friday afternoon.The four-time Stanley Cup champion and third-highest scorer in club history leads a top five that includes Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy, Darryl Sittler, and the franchise's leader in points, Mats Sundin.Johnny Bower was the highest-ranked goaltender, clocking in at No. 7. Thirteen-year captain George Armstrong, the franchise's all-time leader in games played, came in at No. 12.Other notable names include Borje Salming at No. 8, Wendel Clark at No. 15, Doug Gilmour at No. 13, Curtis Joseph at No. 35, Tomas Kaberle at No. 37, Felix Potvin at No. 45, Phil Kessel at No. 48, Darcy Tucker at No. 70, Dion Phaneuf at No. 88, Tie Domi at No. 93, and James van Riemsdyk - the only active player - at No. 100.More than 300,000 fan votes were taken into account when compiling the list, which can be viewed in full here.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane is expected to miss weeks with three cracked ribs after taking a nasty spill into the boards during the team's season opener Thursday, head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed.Related: Evander Kane taken to hospital after violent crashKane took the spill late in the second period of Thursday's contest in a race for the puck with Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin.He had to be helped off the ice, and was taken to a nearby hospital.The news gets worse for the Sabres, who earlier in the day announced that forward Jack Eichel would miss weeks after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday.On the bright side after missing the opener with an ailing knee injury, forward Kyle Okposo will likely dress Sunday when the Sabres tangle with the Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will be without Carey Price for at least two games to begin what they hope will be a bounce-back season. Based on the club's latest update, however, there's a chance his absence could be longer.Montreal announced Friday that Price is suffering from a "severe" case of the flu, and has been put on antibiotics while being evaluated at home daily by team doctor David Mulder.The Canadiens won their season opener, with Al Montoya stopping 30-of-31 shots in goal. Montoya should be in net again Saturday in Ottawa, with Charlie Lindgren backing him up.

Andrew Shaw has avoided a second suspension in almost two weeks.After being slapped with a three-game ban for boarding Washington Capitals defenseman Connor Hobbs during the preseason, the Montreal Canadiens forward avoided further discipline for his slew foot on Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson at the conclusion of Thursday's contest, a NHL spokesman told Pro Hockey Talk's Mike Halford.

After scoring a record four times in his NHL debut, there's no need for Auston Matthews to pander to the Toronto sports fan base. But give the kid credit for not caving.Born in California and raised a quality baseball player himself growing up in Arizona, the lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers admitted Friday - after a moment's hesitation - that he'd have to stay loyal to his boyhood team should they meet the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series.