NHL Morning Skate for October 9th

* The Utah Hockey Club made its entry into the NHL by earning a victory in its inaugural game in front of a sellout crowd at the Delta Center, becoming the eighth team in the NHL’s expansion era to earn a victory in its debut.

* The Panthers had a memorable night on Tuesday as they watched their championship banner hoisted from the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena and accomplished a rare feat by scoring four goals in the opening period.

* Jordan Kyrou scored two goals, helping the Blues to a multi-goal comeback win – the franchise’s fourth in a season opener – and improved to 4-0-2 in their last six season-opening games.

* Jessica Campbell Made NHL history when she became the first woman in NHL history to play a regular season game as an assistant, associate or head coach.

* Ten more clubs open their 2024-25 seasons on Wednesday, including a trio of all-Canadian matchups on Sportsnet and a doubleheader on TNT and Sports on Max.

UTAH HOCKEY CLUB BEGINS NHL JOURNEY WITH A WIN

It only took 4:56 for hockey fans in Utah to celebrate their first NHL goal Dylan Gunther (2-0-2) etched his name in the franchise’s history books, a mark that was considered the Third fastest goal at the start of a club’s opening game in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68). New captain Clayton Keller (1-0-1) later scored his first goal for his new team as the Utah Hockey Club began its NHL journey on a winning note. Prior to the contest, fans were treated to off-ice activities and celebrations in front of Utah’s owners Ryan And Ashley Smith dropped the club’s first ceremonial puck with help from the NBA star and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markanen.

* The Utah Hockey Club became the eighth franchise in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967–68) to win its inaugural game. They joined the Golden Knights (2017–18), Senators (1992–93), Lightning (1992–93), Flames (1972–73), Sabers (1970–71), Kings (1967–68) and Oakland Seals ( 1967) to -68)

* Keller began his tenure at Utah with the “C” on his chest and has since become the first captain to score in a franchise’s opening game Kelly Buchberger did so on October 2, 1999 for the Atlanta Thrashers.

* Günther (21 years, 181 days) became the fifth player in NHL history to score a franchise’s first goal at age 21 or younger. He joined Marian Gaborik (18 years, 235 days on Oct 6, 2000 with MIN), Kevin Lowe (20 years, 178 days on October 10, 1979 with EDM), Chuck Dinsmore (21 years, 131 days on December 1, 1924 with MMR) and Reg Noble (21 years, 179 days on December 19, 1917 with TOR).

AT THE BEGINNING OF 2024-25, THE OFFICIAL CHAMPIONS REACHED EARLY AND FREQUENTLY

After the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup championship banner was hoisted into the rafters, Sam Bennett (2-0-2) scored two of Florida’s four goals in the first period en route to a win over the Atlantic Division rival Bruins. The Panthers, who improved to 11-0-2 at the start of a season on home ice, joined the Canadiens in 1976–77 (October 7, 1976) to become the second reigning Stanley Cup champions in NHL history , who scored four goals in the first third of a season opener.

* Florida, which also scored at least six goals against Boston twice in the 2024 second round and 2023 first round en route to series victories, has an NHL-best 29 goals against the club in the 2022-23 regular season and seven more than the closest (DET: 22).

* Aleksander Barkov (0-1-1), the first Panthers player to start with the franchise in 12 seasons, also picked up an assist in the first period and has done so in each of the club’s last 10 home openers since 2015-16 (2- 14-16 in 10 GP). He joined Wayne Gretzky (8-19-27 in 13 GP, 1979-80 – 1991-92) and Jaromir Jagr (5-16 – 21 in 10 GP, 1997-98 – 2007-08) became the third player in NHL history to collect at least one helper in 10 or more consecutive home openers.

KYROU COMES TO THE CLUTCH AS THE BLUES PASS AT KRAKEN IN THE OPENER

Vince Thin scored the first of two Kraken goals within the first 2:20 of the second period, but Jordan Kyrou (2-0-2) responded with two of three Blues goals in 1:55 as St. Louis overcame a multi-goal deficit to win a season opener for the fourth time in franchise history (also on October 11) . , 1978, Oct. 9, 1986 & Oct. 2, 2009).

* The Blues improved to 4-0-2 in their last six season opening games since 2019-20 – the third-longest active streak in the NHL behind the Flyers (7-0-2 since 2015-16) and Hurricanes (6-0). -2 since 2016-17). The Golden Knights (5-0-0 since 2019-20) can also extend their point streak in this scenario when they open their season against the Avalanche on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET on Max, TNT).

JESSICA CAMPBELL MAKES NHL HISTORY

Jessica Campbell On Tuesday, she had a historic night when she stepped behind the bench and became the first woman in NHL history to play a regular season game as an assistant, associate or head coach. Campbell, who spent the last two seasons in the AHL and helped lead the Coachella Valley Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup finals, said being back behind the bench was “like riding a bike.”

QUICK CLICKS

* ESPN airs touching tribute to Gaudreau before premiere

* Jordan Eberle named Kraken captain

* Rapid relocation of exercises to North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Milton

* PWHL friends and former teammates were in attendance for Jessica Campbell’s first game

* Michele Zarzaca’s vision and passion for hockey brought TNT’s NHL crew together

PUCK DROPS IN CANADA WITH THREE NATIONAL GAMES ON SPORTSNET

A trio of all-Canadian matchups will open the 2024-25 regular season in Canada on Sportsnet, starting with the 22nd all-time combined season opener between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. That’s the highest total between two teams in NHL history, ahead of the Flames and Canucks, who will play their 13th such matchup later in the broadcast. After also fighting their way to Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, Connor McDavid and the Oilers will open their season with a host Mark Scheifele and the Jets at Rogers Place.

* A season full of changes in Toronto brings with it a new head coach Craig Berube and new additions to the ice, including a top pair defenseman Chris Taneva trio of 2024 Stanley Cup winners in Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman Larsson And Steven Lorentz and former captain of the Canadiens Max Pacioretty. They team up with a returning core that includes a new captain Austin Matthews, William Nylander (which appeared in Episode 1 of *FACEOFF: Inside the NHL*), Mitch Marner And John Tavares.

* The key to the Canadiens’ attack lies with three young forwards: the captain Nick Suzuki (age 25), Cole Caufield (age 23) and Juraj Slafkovsky (age 20). Suzuki could become the first Canadiens player to lead the team in points in four consecutive seasons since Pacioretty (6 from 2011-12 – 2016-17), while Caufield has led or tied for the team in goals in two of the last three seasons .

* Kyle Connorwho has scored more than 30 goals in six of the last seven seasons, enters the 2024-25 season with an active six-game scoring streak in the season-opening games of 2018-19. Connor’s six-game run is tied Cam Atkinson (2014-15 – 2019-20), Yvan Cournoyer (1973-74 – 1978-79) and Mud Bruneteau (1940-41 – 1945-46) for the longest streak in NHL history.

* After being one win away from the Stanley Cup, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and the Oilers look to start the 2024-25 season with a win against the Jets – the teams that lose the Stanley Cup Final have a record of 51-36-10 in the following season opener. Draisaitl has reached the top scorer in each of his team’s last eight season-opening games, the longest stretch in franchise history and the longest active streak (also). Morgan Rielly & Filip Forsberg).

* The Flames enter the 2024-25 season looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in two seasons with the help of Calgary’s captain Mikael Backlundwho will be in his 17th season skating and excelling Jarome Iginla (16) for the most players in franchise history. Backlund, who ranks among the franchise’s top 10 in points (200-331 – 531 in 990 GP), needs two helpers to tie the game Kent Nilsson (229-333—562 in 425 GP) for ninth place on the Flames’ all-time assists list.

* The Canucks’ journey to the 2024 second round began with an 8-1 win over the Oilers, their eventual opponent Brock Boeser (4-0-4), Elias Pettersson (1-3-4) and JT Miller (1-3-4) each scored four points in this competition. Should Boeser score three or more goals tonight, he would become the first player in franchise history to open multiple seasons with more than three goals.

NHL ON TNT DOUBLEHEADER FULL OF POWER

The first NHL on TNT doubleheader of the 2024-25 regular season features two intriguing matchups starting with Sidney Crosby and the penguins are hosts Artemi Panarin and the Rangers, followed by the reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon and the avalanche that makes its way to Las Vegas Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights.