Tonight's Games: Results

Buffalo Sabres, 3 vs. New York Rangers, 1
The New York Rangers were handed their first loss by the Buffalo Sabres as they lost 3-1, with their only goal coming from Scott Gomez. Ryan Miller made 17 saves to get the win, while Thomas Vanek scored two goals and Ales Kotalik stopped the Rangers' 23 consecutive penalty kills with a powerplay goal in second to tie the game at 1-1.

Boston Bruins, 3 vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4 SO
How about the Montreal Canadiens who blew a 3-0 lead but winds up winning the game against the Boston Bruins in a shootout with a goal from Tanguay in the shootout and Carey Price stopping all 3 Bruins shooter, including the last shooter former-Canadien Michael Ryder (who was booed every time he touched the puck).

Phoenix Coyotes, 1 vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 4
The Chicago Blackhawks get their first win of the season as they beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 at home. Nikolai Khabibulin made 29 saves en route toward the win as Brian Campbell and Colin Fraser score their first goals as Blackhawks (Fraser's first in the NHL), along with goals from Patrick Sharp and Martin Havlat. Peter Mueller scored for the Coyotes, his first of the season.

Nashville Predators, 4 vs. Dallas Stars, 6
There were a lot of first NHL goals as Patric Hornqvist and former Minnesota Wild draft pick Ryan Jones scored their first NHL goals, and Fabian Brunnstrom scored his first goal, along with his second, and his third in a closely contested game against the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars, in which the Stars get their first win of the season. It is only the third time in NHL history that a rookie has scored a hat trick in his first NHL game (I guess that's why there was all that hype about him during the offseason). Nashville also got goals from Martin Erat and Radek Bonk, while Dallas got their other goals from Mike Modano (2 goals) and Stephane Robidas.

Edmonton Oilers, 3 vs. Anaheim Ducks, 2
Jonas Hiller was strong in his season debut in goal, but his offense was not able to convert on their scoring chances, losing to the Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2, and remaining one of only two NHL teams to have not registered a point in the season (Colorado is the other team).

My 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Fabian Brunnstrom, 3 goals
2. Nikolai Khabibulin, 29 out of 30 saves
3. Thomas Vanek, 2 goals (1PPG, 1SHG)

In other news: anyone find it weird that the first guest on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's radio show NHL Hour is Whoopi Goldberg? The NHL says that she's a long time NHL fan, but have you ever heard her talk hockey?

~ FOTW

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Postgame Thoughts vs. Bruins

Just got home from the Wild's home opener, and boy am I glad hockey is BACK! I loved seeing that Northwest Division Champions banner in the rafter, and I just hung up the replica banner that were handed out after the game, along with my calendar in my room. Full house tonight at the Xcel and a very loud ovation to Kurtis Foster during the announcement of the players that weren't playing.

The team had an extremely slow start tonight against the Boston Bruins, more because they had to kill a four-minute high sticking penalty early on in the game by Brent Burns, but they managed to go into the second period tied after Eric Belanger scores on a powerplay late in the first. The Wild dominated the Bruins in the second period with three goals from Bergeron, Miettinen, and Belanger, his second of the night. The third period was a different story. It took the Wild more than 10 minutes before they got their first shot on goal in the third, with most of the play being in the Wild's defensive zone. But they held on long enough for a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins, and all that matters right now is getting the W.

3 Stars of the Night:
1. Eric Belanger
2. Mikko Koivu
3. Brent Burns

Oh...and Pavol Demitra just scored the game winner in overtime against the Calgary Flames who blew a 3-1 lead, so much for redemption against the Canucks for the Flames...

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