Monday's edition of the "Morning Skate" catches up after a busy weekend on the ice, as there were 13 games on Saturday and another four on Sunday, culminating with a game here in Las Vegas, with the Golden Knights hosting the Anaheim Ducks.
I'll give you a few tidbits from both days, as there were some incredible superlatives to note from the weekend.
Weekend RECAP:
On Saturday...
- Jonathan Huberdeau (2 goals, 2 assists) and Mikael Backlund netted third-period goals to lift the Calgary Flames to victory in an emotional home opener at Scotiabank Saddledome. The evening opened with the Flames honoring the lives of brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau.
- Clayton Keller (2 goals, 1 assist) scored an overtime winner to help the relocated Utah Hockey Club squash a New York Rangers comeback while improving to 3-0-0 on the season. The UHC can become the first franchise in NHL history to go 4-0-0 when it completes its New York metropolitan area road trip versus the Devils tonight.
- Connor Bedard (1 goal, 2 assists) scored his first goal of the season and collected his fifth career three-point game to tie Jonathan Toews as well as Jeremy Roenick for the second most by a teenager in franchise history in Chicago's 5-2 win in Edmonton.
On Sunday...
- In extending his season-opening point streak to three games, Wyatt Johnston scored his first goal of the campaign, as the Stars skated to a second shutout in as many days.
- After falling 1-0 early in the first period, Winnipeg rallied with goals from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor in overtime to help the Jets improve to 3-0-0 – their longest winning streak to begin a season in franchise history.
- Justin Kirkland scored his first NHL goal to help the Flames improve to 3-0-0 this season, one shy of their longest winning streak to start a campaign in franchise history.
- Jack Eichel became the first player in franchise history with at least seven points through three games of a campaign as Vegas improved to a 3-0-0 start for the third straight season.
Through the first six nights:
- Favorites are 21-17
- Overs are 17-19-2
Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):
Pittsburgh (-130, 6o, -120) at Montreal
Monday's six-game slate includes Sidney Crosby and the Penguins visiting Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens, as we have one star nearing the end of his career and another just getting started.
Crosby needs one point to become the 10th player in NHL history with 1,600. Crosby has accumulated 24 of his 1,599 career points at Bell Centre.
The Penguins have registered wins in three straight against the Canadiens, and are on a 7-2-2 run against Montreal.
Even further, the Penguins have tallied three or more goals in 10 of their last 11 games against Montreal.
PREDICTION: I'm not ready to lay a heavy price with the Penguins, and don't want to lay a puck line on the road this early in the season. But with how well the Pens have scored against Montreal recently, and the Canadiens coming off back-to-back games of scoring four goals in each, I can see a high-scoring game tonight.