* Utah Hockey Club entered the NHL by earning a victory in their first game in front of a sold-out crowd at Delta Center, becoming the eighth team in the NHL’s expansion era to earn a victory in their debut.

* The Panthers had a night to remember on Tuesday as they saw their championship banner rise to the rafters of Amerant Bank Arena, achieving a rare feat after scoring four goals in the opening period.

* Jordan Kyrou scored twice to propel the Blues to a multi-goal comeback victory – the franchise’s fourth in a season opener – and improved to 4-0-2 in their past 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, staff member or head coach.

* Ten additional 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 STARTS NHL JOURNEY WITH A WINNING NOTE

It took just 4:56 for Utah hockey fans to celebrate their first NHL goal Dylan Guenther (2-0-2) has etched its name in the franchise history books, a mark that is known as the third fastest goal to start a club’s opening match in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68). Newly appointed captain Clayton Keller (1-0-1) later scored his first for his new team as Utah Hockey Club started their NHL journey on a winning note. Before the game, fans were treated to off-ice activities and celebrations for the Utah owners Ryan And Ashley Smith made the club’s first ceremonial puck drop with the help of NBA star and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markanen.

* Utah Hockey Club became the eighth franchise in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967–68) to win their first 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). -68)

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

* Guenther (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 October 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 Nobel (21 years, 179 days on December 19, 1917 with TOR).

REIGNING CHAMPIONS DIVORCE EARLY AND OFTEN TO START 2024-25

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

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

* Aleksander Barkov (0-1-1), who became the first Panthers player to skate for the franchise in twelve seasons, also collected an assist in the first period and has done so in each of the club’s past ten home openers, dating back to 2015- 2016. 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) as the third player in NHL history to collect at least one helper in 10 or more consecutive home openers.

KYROU COMES CLUTCH AS THE BLUES IN THE OPENER FOR KRAKEN RALLY

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

* The Blues improved to 4-0-2 in their past six season-opening games since 2019-20 – the NHL’s third-longest active stretch behind the Flyers (7-0-2 since 2015-16) and Hurricanes (6-0). -2 since 2016-2017). The Golden Knights (5-0-0 since 2019-20) can also extend their points streak in that 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 had a historic night Tuesday when she stepped behind the bench and became the first woman in NHL history to play a regular-season game as an assistant, staff member or head coach. Campbell, who spent the past two seasons in the AHL and led the Coachella Valley Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals, said being back behind the bench was “just like riding a bike.”

QUICK CLICKS

* ESPN will air a touching tribute to Gaudreau before opening night

* Jordan Eberle named Kraken captain

* Lightning drills to North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Milton

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

* Michele Zarzaca’s vision, 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 2024-2025 regular season in Canada on Sportsnet, starting with the 22nd all-time two-way season-opening game 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 contest their 13th such game later in the broadcast. Furthermore, after battling their way to Game 7 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Connor McDavid and the Oilers will open their season by hosting Mark Scheifele and the Jets at Rogers Place.

* A season of change in Toronto will usher in a new head coach Craig Berubé and on-ice additions, including a top pair defenseman in Chris Taneva trio of 2024 Stanley Cup winners in Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson And Steven Lorentz as well as the former captain of the Canadiens Max Pacioretty. They join forces with a returning core including a new captain Auston Matthews, William Nylander (which was featured in episode 1 of *FACEOFF: Inside the NHL*), Mitch Marner And Johannes Tavares.

* The key to the Canadiens’ offense centers on three young forwards: Captain Nick Suzuki (age 25), Cole Caufield (23 years) 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 co-led the team in points in two of the past three seasons goals. .

* Kyle Connorwho has scored more than 30 goals in six of the past seven campaigns, enters 2024-25 on an active six-game winning streak in season-opening fixtures dating back to 2018-19. Connor’s six-match streak is tied Cam Atkinson (2014-15 – 2019-20), Yvan Cournoier (1973-1974 – 1978-1979) and Mud Bruneteau (1940-41 – 1945-46) for the longest streak in NHL history.

* After earning one Stanley Cup victory, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and the Oilers aim to start 2024-25 with a win against the Jets – teams that lose in the Stanley Cup Final are 51-36-10 in their subsequent season-opening game. Draisaitl has found the scoresheet in each of his team’s past eight season openers, the longest stretch in franchise history and tied for the longest active streak (also Morgan Rielly & Filip Forsberg).

* The Flames enter 2024-25 looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in two seasons with the help of Calgary’s captain Mikael Backlundwho, in his 17th season, is poised to skate and surpass Jarome Iginla (16) for the most of any player in franchise history. Backlund, who is in the top 10 of the franchise in points (200-331-531 in the 990 GP), needs two helpers to tie the score Kent Nilsson (229-333-562 in 425 GP) for ninth on the Flames’ all-time assists list.

* The Canucks’ journey to the 2024 second round began with an 8-1 win against the Oilers, their ultimate foe, with Brock Boeser (4-0-4), Elias Pettersson (1-3-4) and JT Molenaar (1-3-4) who each post four points in that match. Should Boeser find the net three or more times tonight, he would become the first player in franchise history to open multiple seasons with more than three goals.

NHL ON TNT DOUBLEHEADER LOADED WITH STAR POWER

The first NHL on TNT doubleheader of the 2024-2025 regular season includes a pair of intriguing matchups starting with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins hosting Artemi Panarin and the Rangers followed by reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan Mackinnon and the Avalanche facing the trip to Vegas Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights.