Wojtek Wolski, a former first-round draft selection of the Colorado Avalanche, broke his neck sliding headfirst into the boards in a KHL game Thursday, the league announced.Officially diagnosed with two broken cervical vertebrae, spinal cord trauma, and a concussion, the Magnitogorsk forward is expected to miss the rest of the season.Related: Wojtek Wolski stretchered off KHL ice after dive into boardsWolski remains in intensive care, but also in good spirits. He spoke with TSN's Gino Reda, who passed along this message from the 30-year-old:"I never thought I'd say I got lucky breaking my neck. But it really could have been a lot worse. Staying positive, and hoping to make a quick recovery sometime late this season"Wolski has spent the last four seasons in the KHL. He appeared in 27 games for the Washington Capitals in his last NHL action.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens placed forward Sven Andrighetto on waivers Friday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.As per TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie, the move is likely in response to defenseman Jeff Petry who is feeling better after missing the team's season opener on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres with a knee injury.Andrighetto split last season with the Canadiens and the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League. He posted seven goals and 17 points in 44 games with the big club, while adding another 23 points in 26 games with the IceCaps.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period is not how you want to start the season. Ask the Carolina Hurricanes.Bill Peters' squad was cruising over the Winnipeg Jets with 14:58 to play Thursday. That's when it all fell apart. Blake Wheeler scored nine seconds after Victor Rask put Carolina up 4-1, Patrik Laine potted his first career goal, Mathieu Perreault tied the game up with 90 seconds left, and Mark Scheifele won it in overtime.Hurricanes fans, they weren't happy. That's about the last way you want to watch your team start the season. Unfortunately for Carolina's social media team, the show must go on, and the game story must be tweeted, even after a ghastly collapse. Here are the best tweets sent the Hurricanes' way after a nightmare first game:

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 Friday, October 14:Triple Threats

It appears Brad Marchand is still riding his World Cup of Hockey high.The Boston Bruins forward helped propel his club to a 6-3 win in the team's season opener Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets by netting two goals and adding three assists. While the five-point outburst was impressive enough, it was his second goal of the game late in the third period that truly stole the show.After all was said and done, the line of Marchand, David Pastrnak, and David Backes combined for all six goals and 12 points in the contest. Not bad, considering the team's top center, Patrice Bergeron, was absent due to injury.The outing gives Marchand the very early league lead in points.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nail Yakupov might have a new trick up his sleeve.Related: Watch: Yakupov blasts home 1st goal with BluesThe newest member of the St. Louis Blues scored his first goal with the team on Thursday, drilling a slap shot past Minnesota Wild netminder Devan Dubnyk, a rare feat by the 23-year-old."This is first time I score goal from slap shot," Yakupov said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "I tried and you have to try to do something. Nothing wrong with shot, as coach said between periods to have shot-first mentality."Nothing wrong with that at all. So going forward don't be surprised to see Yakupov take a few more windups.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was, in consecutive days, a high-volume scoring night in the NHL. But after Auston Matthews monopolized the lamp lighting Wednesday night, quite a few were able to get in on the fun on Night No. 2.To celebrate another 24 hours free of discussion about ways to introduce more goal-scoring in the NHL, we introduce the top five goals from Thursday night's action.5. Drouin big thingsJonathan Drouin might go from four to 40 this year. Watch the comeback sniper of the year favorite lull the defense to sleep before quickly picking up his feet, turning, and letting a perfect snap shot kiss the bar over Petr Mrazek's shoulder for his first of the season.4. Oil changeDiscarded former first-round picks of the Edmonton Oilers are hitting the right notes in St. Louis. Here's Nail Yakupov landing a pinpoint cross-ice feed in transition onto the stick of Magnus Paajarvi, who finds a hole in Devan Dubnyk.

Andrew Shaw just can't stay out of trouble.The Montreal Canadiens pest caught Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson with a slewfoot in the final seconds of Thursday night's season opener.Shaw was given a match penalty for the late incident.Last month, he was suspended three preseason games for his hit on Washington Capitals prospect Connor Hobbs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price won't travel with the club for Saturday's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens confirmed Thursday night.Price missed Thursday's season opener - a win over the Buffalo Sabres - due to illness.Al Montoya stopped 30-of-31 shots for Montreal in the 4-1 victory.Price played only 12 games last season due to injury.The winner of the 2015 Hart and Vezina trophies led Canada to the World Cup of Hockey title last month.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somewhere, Peter Chiarelli is cringing.Nail Yakupov scored his first goal with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, skating into the Minnesota Wild zone and firing a slap shot past goaltender Devan Dubnyk to give the Blues a 2-1 lead midway through the second period.Yakupov was playing his second game for St. Louis after being traded by the Edmonton Oilers general manager last Friday for forward Zach Pochiro and a conditional third-round pick in 2017.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For precautionary reasons, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane has been taken to hospital for further evaluation after a violent crash into the boards in Thursday's game versus the Montreal Canadiens.Chasing down a puck in the offensive zone, Kane was sent colliding side-first into the endboards at high speed when he lost his balance as a result of contact from Canadiens defender Alexei Emelin.Kane's left forearm and wrist broke the contact, and were crunched at his side as a result of the impact. He was helped off the ice and taken down the tunnel.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins held one more celebration for their title-winning season Thursday prior to their home opener, having captain Sidney Crosby carry the Stanley Cup out for the players to huddle around while watching the franchise's fourth championship banner being raised to the rafters.

Shelved, but styling.Eschewing clumsy and cumbersome crutches to protect his injured left ankle, Buffalo Sabres sophomore Jack Eichel is instead wheeling 'round on a scooter, and looking fresh as all hell doing it in a three-piece suit for opening night.

A trio of former Toronto Maple Leafs stars will be remembered forever in bronze form.Statues of Dave Keon, Tim Horton, and Turk Broda were added to "Legends Row" in a ceremony Thursday evening.

Patrik Laine isn't concerned with keeping the ridiculous pace set by Auston Matthews in the initial strides of the rookie scoring race.When asked whether or not he needed five goals to top Matthews, who became the first player in history to score four in his NHL debut Wednesday in an overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, Laine wisely imparted a team-first mentality."No, I need two points," he told TSN's Gary Lawless. "Two for the win."Laine's more than welcomed comparisons with Matthews in the past, telling reporters plainly that he was the better prospect for the Maple Leafs in the lead-up to last summer's draft.But as far as their NHL debuts, it's probably the right move, downplaying the comparison.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Murray isn't leaving Buffalo any time soon.The Buffalo Sabres rewarded their general manager with a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday.Murray was hired in January 2014, two months after the firing of former GM Darcy Regier.He's led a Sabres rebuild that's included low finishes, a pair of second overall picks, and several impactful trades.Under Murray, the Sabres missed out on Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid but selected forwards Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel in back-to-back drafts in 2014 and 2015. Murray took Alexander Nylander eighth overall in June.He acquired goaltender Robin Lehner in a trade with his former employer, the Ottawa Senators in January 2015, and also added Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly in blockbuster deals with the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche, respectively.This past summer, Murray acquired blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers and signed free-agent forward Kyle Okposo to a seven-year, $42-million deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Quick will miss at least the next handful of games for the Los Angeles Kings.As the club awaits MRI results on the workhorse goalie's lower-body injury, his status has been classified as week to week, according to Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times.Quick suffered the knock in the first period of Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and was replaced in the final 40 minutes by backup Jeff Zatkoff.With Quick headed to the injured reserve, the Kings will summon Peter Budaj to help shoulder the load.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Foley's expansion franchise needs a bit more time before revealing its name to the world.The Las Vegas NHL club is now targeting Nov. 22 for its name-unveiling ceremony, but even that date is "still in pencil," team officials told Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated.Foley was originally aiming for Nov. 18 to announce the name, which has reportedly been decided. It is expected to be either the Golden Knights, Silver Knights, or Desert Knights.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews has the attention of network executives, too.NBC will broadcast Matthews' debut at Air Canada Centre on Saturday versus the Boston Bruins on sister network NBCSN, citing the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie's incredible four-goal performance in his NHL debut as the impetus behind the decision.The Scottsdale, Ariz., native of Mexican-American descent made headlines across the United States and Canada when he became the first player in history to score four times in his debut. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and even the Rolling Stone were among major publications to feature the 19-year-old wonder Thursday morning.Toronto was originally scheduled to appear on NBC and NBCSN once this season for the Centennial Classic versus the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1.The Edmonton Oilers and the NHL's other megastar, Connor McDavid, are not on the broadcast schedule. There's a glorious opportunity to add them on Nov. 1, when Matthews and McDavid square off for the first time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frustrated fans who've been unable to buy Auston Matthews jerseys following his unprecedented debut should be placated by the weekend.Related: Matthews makes NHL history with 4 goals in debutThe uniform isn't yet being offered on league or team online stores, but NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon told ESPN's Darren Rovell that they're expected to be made available over the next 48 hours.Weatherdon said licensees aren't allowed to use a player's name and image until he has technically made the team, and once that happens, the player has to sign the group licensing agreement.The players' union wouldn't confirm whether Matthews has signed it, but said it has consulted Matthews' agents and didn't expect it to be an issue.Matthews didn't get his No. 34 until late September, and the Leafs didn't officially name him to the team until the opening-night roster was announced.Weatherdon said Connor McDavid jerseys were available before his first game last year because the Edmonton Oilers gave him his No. 97 and said he'd made the team immediately.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Brandon Davidson's ailment is no minor issue.Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd MacLellan spoke to reporters on Thursday where he noted Davidson will be out "a while" with an injury he would only classify as an "upper-body" ailment.Davidson left Wednesday's season opener after being hit by Calgary Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk. Davidson didn't return for the third period.In a corresponding move, the club recalled newly signed defenseman Eric Gryba from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.MacLellan also noted that defenseman Adam Larsson's absence from practice on Thursday was strictly for maintenance reasons.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jared Bednar made his first big move as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.The team's new bench boss announced defenseman Francois Beauchemin and forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene will serve as the club's alternate captains this season.According to Bednar, Beauchemin will wear the 'A' full time. MacKinnon and Duchene will rotate, with Duchene getting it to start.The three will continue to serve behind Gabriel Landeskog, who has held the role of captain since the 2012-13 season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wojtek Wolski was stretchered off the ice Thursday after diving to keep the puck in the offensive zone and crashing into the boards while playing for the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk.Woski was unable to return to the game and was set to undergo an examination to discover the extent of the injuries.Drafted 21st overall by Colorado in 2004, Wolski has spent the past three seasons in the KHL after finishing his NHL career with a brief stint in Washington in 2013.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Jack Skille to a one-year, $700,000 contract, the team announced on Thursday.The 29-year-old joined the team in camp after signing a professional-tryout contract. Skille clearly impressed management, despite going pointless with eight shots in four preseason games.Skille spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, where he managed eight goals and 14 points in 74 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nail Yakupov appears to have made a positive first impression with his new team.Yakupov recorded one shot on goal and one hit in his St. Louis Blues debut, a win over Chicago. It was his play without the puck, however, that had head coach Ken Hitchcock rethinking his assumptions:

Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has no plans to follow in Pavel Datsyuk's footsteps.The now-36-year-old signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, and while he still has five years remaining on the deal (including this season), he has no intention of opting out of the deal or taking his talents overseas."For me, no. I think Sweden - that chapter is closed, hockey-wise, for me," Zetterberg told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press of potentially moving to play in his native Sweden. "Two reasons. When I’m done here, I’ll be 41 years old. If I can’t play out my contract, it’s because I’m injured. So I won’t be playing hockey. And as soon as I signed that 12-year deal, I knew I was done back home. I understand Pavel. I think the KHL obviously is a higher level than the Swedish Elite League … and also for him going back to be with his daughter (who lives in Russia) was a big impact."However, while Zetterberg intends to play out the rest of his contract, he understands that at his age, his body might not allow him to continue for another five years."Yes. Yes. But in the same way, I’m human," Zetterberg said of his intentions to play out his contract. "I know that every year it’s a bigger and bigger battle to get through. We’ll see if my body holds up for five more years. Last year, I played 82 games, which I was proud of doing - maybe it wasn’t 82 good ones, but I played 82 - and so we’ll see."By now, I’m just taking it year by year. And obviously the next two years are big years - the last year at the Joe and then first year at new building. That’s probably where I’m looking."Whether Zetterberg is able to play until the 2020-21 season or not, one thing is certain he's cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever don the red and white.Zetterberg sits eighth and seventh all-time in franchise goals and points, respectively.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey is a unique game.Much of the physical requirements and athletic traits are the same as every other professional sport, but those in the NHL play on a comparatively tiny surface, confided by plexiglass and unforgiving boards.The pace of the game is unprecedented, and the physicality falls under the same category.In saying all this, the best players - the ones you can consistently build a winning team around - are the smartest. No one makes it to the NHL without, as those in the game like to call call it, "Hockey IQ," and below is a list of three players who exemplify what it takes to understand the game better than anybody else.Sidney CrosbyTeam: Pittsburgh Penguins

Emerson Etem is returning to the team that drafted him.The forward has been claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks from the Vancouver Canucks, the club announced Thursday.Etem failed to crack the Canucks' opening-night roster and was placed on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to the AHL.The 29th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft split last season between the Rangers and Canucks following three years with the Ducks. Altogether, he has appeared in 170 career games, recording 22 goals and 24 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With unsigned contracts and trade demands a thing of the past - for now at least - Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to finish some business on the ice.The club is set to open a new season on home ice against Detroit on Thursday, and the captain is looking forward to focusing solely on the mission at hand: lifting the Stanley Cup come June."There shouldn't be any distractions this year and that means no excuses," Stamkos told reporters after the morning skate.Unmentioned but likely at the front of his mind were several issues that hung over the club last season and into the summer, beginning with Stamkos' uncertain future with the team, followed by Jonathan Drouin's trade request, and culminating in Nikita Kucherov's extended contract negotiation that was resolved only days ago.The Lightning did push Pittsburgh to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and after advancing to the Cup Final the year before, Stamkos feels this certainly could be Tampa's time.

The Dallas Stars will honor the five police officers killed in the line of duty this past July with decals on their helmets during Thursday's season opener.

Jack Eichel is indeed suffering from a high ankle sprain, Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed Thursday, a day after Eichel was forced from practice after taking an awkward fall.Related: Watch: Sabres' Eichel leaves practice with ankle injury after awkward fallEichel got his skate tangled with forward Zemgus Girgensons during a drill and fell on his left ankle. TSN's Bob McKenzie was the first to report the original diagnosis, noting Eichel is expected to be out of the lineup for at least four-to-six weeks, a timeline Bylsma suggested is at least on the right track.

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 Thursday, October 13:Triple Threats

Put the piggy bank away. The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't for sale.So says club CEO David Morehouse, who told KDKA Morning News on Thursday that owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux are no longer looking to sell."We did look at a bunch of different things; one of them included the outright sale of the franchise. We're not looking at that right now," Morehouse disclosed. "We couldn't be luckier to have owners like this in Pittsburgh."Back in June 2015, Burkle and Lemieux enlisted a wealth management firm to explore a potential sale of the team, with a reported asking price of $750 million.Even before the team's recent Stanley Cup championship, however, there was no process in place to sell, and Morehouse's statement officially puts an end to that.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It started with Auston Matthews and ended with Connor McDavid.NHL fans were treated to a glimpse of where the game is headed Wednesday night, and boy, was it something to behold.Four games helped prove the league is in good stead as the players of the future and the stars of today presented a perfect showcase of what to expect this season and in seasons to come.Young guns fire immediatelyThis year's first overall pick got his first true taste of NHL hockey as the Toronto Maple Leafs clashed with the Ottawa Senators and Matthews put on a performance for the ages.His four goals set a NHL record for the most by a player in his debut, and he lifted many from their seats with a second goal that was ... well, you know.McDavid continued to offer the promise of better days in Edmonton with his two-goal, three-point effort. But it doesn't stop there: Jesse Puljujarvi netted his first of the season after being plucked fourth overall, and Mitch Marner - though held pointless - was a constant threat, tying for a team-high six shots.The four - all selected with the first handful of picks the last two drafts - made immediate impacts for their clubs in further proof that the league's getting younger.Established names return to formThough Wednesday's contests made it very easy to get lost in fantasies of what's to come for the game's budding stars, many of the game's established names continued to do their thing.2015 Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson further padded his stats with a three-point output, Vladimir Tarasenko unleashed havoc on the Blackhawks with a three-point outing of his own, and the list goes on.Eighteen of the players who just participated in a best-on-best tournament at the World Cup of Hockey found the scoresheet Wednesday night.We may have salivated over the young guns, but the game's best haven't been unseated just yet.Skill trumps allTwo Canadian matchups Wednesday night involved fisticuffs, but it was easy for that to get lost when everyone was fixated on dynamic displays of skill.Matthews and McDavid impressed with every rush, turning every possession into a potential scoring chance, and it's no secret that's what hockey fans of all strokes crave.The night saw an average of 3.75 goals scored in each game, an average of one more goal per game than last season (of course, in a much smaller sample size). In just four games, 15 different players recorded multi-point performances.Wednesday night's buzz made players act like fans and helped us all realize why we love the game. When skill is the main course and emotions are high, nothing tastes sweeter. Another serving, please.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two nights after the Miami Heat paid tribute to Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, the Florida Panthers are following suit in remembering one of baseball's promising young stars.The Panthers will honor Fernandez during their home opener against the New Jersey Devils Thursday at BB&T Center.

Someone is far from over it.With the Canadiens set to open a new season Thursday in Buffalo, an anonymous fan took out a full-page ad in the Montreal Gazette to publicly renounce their season tickets in light of this past offseason's decision to trade P.K. Subban.The letter writer thanks Subban for what he did on and off the ice, while refusing to support general manager Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien any further.Look for this fan to attend only one game this season: March 2, 2017 against the Nashville Predators, of course.

Game recognizes game.Following a two-goal, three-point opening-night performance of his own, Connor McDavid gave due respect to the four-goal outburst by Toronto Maple Leafs star rookie Auston Matthews earlier Wednesday night.Related: How Matthews' debut towers over previous No. 1 picks

Jonathan Quick, the Los Angeles Kings' workhorse in net, may miss significant time with an injury.Kings general manager Dean Lombardi didn't delve into specifics, but when asked about the lower-body ailment Quick suffered - which prevented him from coming out for the second period in Wednesday's season opener - he told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider that his starter could be out "a while."Quick made a league-high 68 starts last year, winning 40 games and recording five shutouts. He made 72 appearances the season prior.Lombardi has invested an inappreciable portion of his payroll into his backup, Jeff Zatkoff, in large part likely because his starter traditionally takes on such a substantial workload.Jack Campbell, Peter Budaj, and Tom McCollum are also in the system.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's unlikely there will ever be a debut quite like Auston Matthews'.Four goals. In two periods. In his first NHL game. At 19 years old.It was remarkable to watch.Here are three takeaways from one of the most memorable Toronto Maple Leafs season openers ever:More than 1 gameThe haters - and there are and will be many of them - will be out in full force after Matthews' performance, and their battle cry will be: It's one game.Thing is, it's not.Matthews spent his draft year playing against men in Switzerland and scored 24 goals in 36 games. He had seven goals in seven games at the World Junior Hockey Championship, and six goals in 10 games at the World Championship. He also scored twice in Toronto in three games at the World Cup.This is what Matthews does. He scores goals. And if Wednesday night was any indication, he's going to score a lot of them. All of them.No. 1 centerSomewhere, hopefully, Mats Sundin was watching. The greatest and most productive player in club history, he left Toronto in 2008 but finally has an heir apparent.Matthews has all the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 center in the NHL, and he proved it again Wednesday.The kid's first goal - on his first shot - came off a scramble in front of the net.His second was a stunning display of his talents, both his hands and his skating ability. He dangled around two Senators in the neutral zone by putting the puck through each's legs. Matthews then used his lower-body strength to fight off a check from Mike Hoffman, but lost the puck in the process. No worries, though, all he did was pick two-time Norris Trophy winner and last year's runner-up Erik Karlsson's pocket by lifting his stick and stealing the puck. He wasn't done, obviously. He went to the net and slid the puck on the ice past Craig Anderson from a bad angle. It. Was. Brilliant.Matthews' third goal was a snipe from the slot, the puck hardly on his stick for a second. And he finished off a sweet saucer pass from William Nylander on a two-on-one to make history.In other words, Matthews can - and will - beat you any which way.Matthews' matesMake no mistake, Matthews was the story in Ottawa - in hockey - on Wednesday. He scored four goals in his first NHL game. Say it out loud. The Arizona product is the future of the Maple Leafs, and for once that future isn't the abyss.But what was also encouraging was the play of Matthews' teammates, including his rookie linemate Nylander, who assisted on two of No. 34's goals. Zach Hyman, another rookie playing on the line, finished with an assist.Matthews' performance also overshadowed - and rightfully so - a sublime first NHL game for Mitch Marner. Another 19-year-old, Marner looked as dangerous as Matthews, and both finished with six shots. Marner hit one post, and Matthews had all the puck luck - it was his night, after all.Marner had a dominant first shift, showing off his offensive talents in tight quarters in the Ottawa zone, while also displaying his backchecking ability. He showed remarkable patience, confidence, and poise with the puck, and clearly possesses above-average vision, as evidenced by a wicked cross-ice pass in the slot to James van Riemsdyk in the second period.Matthews played 17:37 and Marner 17:36. Matthews finished with a 72.5 percent Corsi For rating, and Marner 63.16 percent. The kids want the puck, and they know what to do with it when they have it.There's more: Nikita Zaitsev made his NHL debut on the blue line, and swallowed minutes after Matt Hunwick left the game in the first period with an injury. Zaitsev played 23:57, second-most on the club behind Morgan Rielly.The Maple Leafs are Matthews' team. That's clear already. But it looks like he's going to have some help. And that may be the most encouraging sign, because as good as the kid may end up, he's not scoring four goals every night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And not to be outdone.Connor McDavid scored his second goal and third point in the curtain raiser at his new barn, Rogers Arena, with a conversion in tight on Brian Elliott with his penalty shot in the second period Wednesday versus the Calgary Flames.With his deadly deke and multi-point effort, the Edmonton Oilers captain's done his part in an opening night that has showcased the future of the NHL in a big, big way. The reigning No. 1 pick, Auston Matthews, scored four goals in his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first half of the all-Canadian double-header.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ordinarily, Mike Babcock isn't one to appreciate anything short of a win.But after Auston Matthews' four-goal debut, and impressive performances from other fresh faces in an opening-night loss to the Ottawa Senators that, frankly, is on their goaltender, even he couldn't hide the fact that it was a great night to be the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs."That's the best night I've had here by 10 miles," he said after the game, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "Not even close. Because now we have the opportunity."In his second season in Toronto, the Leafs have a fighting chance for the simple fact that they can score.With Matthews, his winger William Nylander, and ever-dangerous Mitch Marner, the Leafs have finishers to capitalize on the reasonably successful system they implemented with below-to-league average talent last year. Because with unskilled forwards firing at a league-low clip, having more than an even share of total shot attempts still meant that the Leafs would finish with the third-fewest goals in 2015-16.With these weapons, it's on Babcock to have the new-look Leafs assimilate back into that simple system, and have those goals translate to wins.What the coach can't control, however, is the performance of Frederik Andersen, who allowed five goals on 30 shots in the first game into his five-year $25-million contract with the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not how the Chicago Blackhawks drew it up.An errant drop pass by Brent Seabrook late in Wednesday's season opener against St. Louis ended up in Chicago's empty net, giving the Blues a 5-2 win.St. Louis' best players led the way, with Vladimir Tarasenko, Paul Stastny, and Kevin Shattenkirk each recording three points. Alex Steen had two assists.The Blues outshot Chicago 33-19, including 15-3 in the third period.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.