* After the Kraken contested each of their first five games on the road, the club returned to Climate Pledge Arena to celebrate their home opener, but Conor Garland and the Canucks had other plans. * The Blues scored seven goals for the second time in three contests to topple the Kings and earn a victory in their first game at Enterprise Center this season.
* Minnesota won in come-from-behind fashion yet again and joined rare company in NHL history in the process.
CANUCKS PLAY SPOILER IN KRAKEN’S INAUGURAL HOME OPENER
After CEO Tod Leiweke officially retired the No. 32 in a pre-game ceremony at Climate Pledge Arena to honor the NHL’s newest franchise, Canucks offseason acquisition Conor Garland (1-1—2) spoiled the Kraken’s inaugural home opener with Seattle legends Russell Wilson and Sue Bird in attendance.
* Seattle’s Vince Dunn opened the scoring at Climate Pledge Arena and became the first defenseman to tally a franchise’s first goal in an inaugural home opener since Sean Hill did so for the Mighty Ducks at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim – now Honda Center – on Oct. 8, 1993.
PERRON’S HAT TRICK DRIVES BLUES OUTBURST IN HOME OPENER. . .
David Perron (3-1—4) scored his fifth career hat trick as a member of the Blues and St. Louis notched seven goals for the second time in three games to continue its strong offensive start to the season.
* The Blues, who matched the longest season-opening win streak in franchise history (also 4-0-0 in 2013-14 and 2017-18), scored at least seven goals in a home opener for the fifth time in franchise history.
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* Only four players have netted more hat tricks for the Blues than Perron: Brett Hull (27), Bernie Federko (11), Brian Sutter (7) and Garry Unger (7).
. . . WHILE PITTSBURGH’S DEPTH SHINES AND SCORES SEVEN
Marcus Pettersson (1-2—3) and Mike Matheson (1-1—2) accounted for two of Pittsburgh’s seven goals as the Penguins improved to 3-0-2 and registered the fifth season-opening point streak of at least five games in franchise history. The others: 13 GP in 1994-95 (12-0-1), 10 GP in 1992-93 (8-0-2), 7 GP in 1986-87 (7-0-0) and 5 GP in 2011-12 (3-0-2).
* Pittsburgh has scored 23 goals over its first five games of the season without captain Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. The 2021-22 campaign marks the franchise’s highest goal total through the first five games of a season since 1994-95 when the Jaromir Jagr-led Penguins also had 23. The last season Pittsburgh had more than 23 goals through five games was 1992-93 (24).
WILD, HURRICANES AND PANTHERS KEEP PERFECT RECORDS AFLOAT
The Wild (4-0-0), Hurricanes (4-0-0) and Panthers (5-0-0) each collected another two points to start the 2021-22 campaign:
* Minnesota erased 1-0 and 3-2 deficits in regulation before Ryan Hartman scored with 13 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Wild open a season with at least four straight wins for the fourth time in franchise history (also 6-0-0 in 2006-07, 5-0-0 in 2007-08 & 4-0-0 in 2008-09).
* While Vincent Trocheck (2-1—3) led the charge for his club, reigning Jack Adams Award winner Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes won their fourth straight game to start 2021-22. Only two recipients of the award have posted a longer win streak to start the subsequent season: Lindy Ruff (10-0-0 in 2006-07 w/ BUF) and Pat Burns (10-0-0 in 1993-94 w/ TOR).
* Jonathan Huberdeau recorded his 24th career multi-goal game as the Panthers joined the Oilers as the second team to win each of its first five games of 2021-22. Huberdeau trails only Olli Jokinen and Pavel Bure (both w/ 31) for the most multi-goal games in franchise history.
RANGERS RECORD FRANCHISE FIRST IN RALLY
With their team trailing 2-0 in the final 5:23, Rangers forwards Chris Kreider, Ryan Lindgren and Barclay Goodrow each scored in a span of 3:20 to help New York stun Ottawa and help the club win a game in which it faced a multi-goal deficit in the final six minutes of regulation for the first time in franchise history.
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SHARKS LOOKS FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN SUNDAY
The Sharks and Wild will look to stay perfect to begin the 2021-22 NHL season, with San Jose eyeing the third 5-0-0 start in franchise history and first in eight years.
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