Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovský logged 17 minutes and 53 seconds of ice time in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 30, opening his fifth NHL season in the team’s second offensive unit. Slafkovský finished without a point, recording two shots on goal and hitting the goalpost during a third-period power play.
Canadiens Snap Toronto’s Opening-Night Streak
The Montreal victory halted Toronto’s ten-game winning streak in home season-opening matches. William Nylander opened the scoring for the Maple Leafs just 48 seconds into the contest. Montreal responded in the first period through Josh Anderson, before Zack Bolduc gave the visitors a 2-3 lead in the second frame. Alexandre Carrier extended that advantage to 3-1 in the third period.
Nylander struck again at 56 minutes to bring Toronto within one, but Montreal held on for the tight decision. Slafkovský skated alongside Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook on a line arranged by the coaching staff. In the game’s waning moments with Toronto pulling its goaltender, Slafkovský twice attempted to hit the empty net without success.
Toronto’s lineup featured top draft choice Gavin McKenna making his NHL debut. The 18-year-old Canadian forward recorded one shot on goal and finished with a minus-two rating. Goaltender Sergej Bobrovskij stopped 21 of 24 shots in his first appearance for the Maple Leafs following a summer contract signing, while Jim Hiller made his debut behind the Toronto bench.
Panthers Silence Defending Champions Carolina
In Raleigh, the Florida Panthers spoiled the Carolina Hurricanes’ banner-raising ceremony by securing a 1-0 victory in overtime. Swedish defenseman Gustav Forsling scored the game-winner 4.3 seconds before the extra session expired, converting a feed from Carter Verhaeghe past goaltender Brandon Bussi.
Jacob Markström stopped all 15 shots he faced in his return to the Panthers’ crease, earning his first shutout of the campaign. The performance made Markström the third goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout in a season opener. Florida joined an exclusive group as only the fifth team in NHL history to blank a defending Stanley Cup champion in an opening game.
“Strieľanie gólov je niečo, čo nerobím príliš často, takže je fajn skórovať,” Forsling told nhl.com regarding his late-game winner. “Vnímal som, že do konca nezostáva veľa času, tak som to len poslal na bránku, keď som po perfektnej prihrávke dostal priestor na strelu.”
Boston Blanks Rangers as Sullivan Reaches 1,000 Games
The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers 3-0 behind a late offensive surge. Fraser Minten broke the scoreless deadlock at the 57-minute mark. J.J. Peterka added a second goal 75 seconds later, and Mark Kastelic sealed the result into an empty net.
Jeremy Swayman turned aside all 24 shots to record his 19th career NHL shutout. For the Rangers, head coach Mike Sullivan worked his 1,000th regular-season game behind an NHL bench. Sullivan became the 33rd coach in league history and only the third American-born skipper to reach the milestone, joining John Tortorella and Peteroll Laviolette.
Bouchard Makes History in Edmonton’s Overtime Thriller
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard recorded a hat trick and two assists in a 5-6 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Bouchard became just the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick in a season opener, following Mark Howe in 1980 and Bert Cobeau in 1919.
No defenseman had previously registered five points in a team’s opening game of the season. Vasilij Podkolzin added two goals for Edmonton, which erased a 2-5 deficit late in the third period before Paul Cotter secured the extra point for Vancouver with his second goal of the night at 62 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Opening Night
How did Juraj Slafkovský perform in Montreal’s season opener?
Juraj Slafkovský played 17 minutes and 53 seconds in Montreal’s 3-2 win over Toronto, recording two shots on goal, hitting a post during a third-period power play, and finishing without a point.
Who scored the overtime winner in the Carolina-Florida game?
Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling scored 4.3 seconds before the end of overtime to defeat the defending champion Hurricanes 1-0.
What historic milestone did Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard achieve?
Evan Bouchard became the third defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick in a season opener, finishing the game with three goals and two assists.
Which head coach reached 1,000 games on opening night?
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan worked his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game during his team’s 3-0 loss to Boston.
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