NHL roundup: Rangers spoil Blackhawks’ celebration

McDavid, who is only 18 years old has the weight of the entire Oilers team on his shoulders. The sky’s the limit for him, and now the Dallas Stars will reap the benefits of his services.

Toews is hoping what he saw Wednesday is a sign of that urgency growing on the Blackhawks quickly.

After being stuck in their room for almost 40 minutes while the Blackhawks conducted a bodacious Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony in which every suit other than mayor Rahm Emanuel was on the ice, the Blueshirts responded with a three-goal first period on their way to Wednesday’s 3-2 opening victory in which they hung on for much of the final two periods. You’ll have to excuse Rangers fans if they seem on edge this season, they’ve been under a lot of pressure lately.

As fans, we try to predict what the scoring lines would be, but get surprised when it turns out to be something else.

“It gives us a personal touch”, added Pat Hall, from Joliet. Maybe it’s the emotions of the evening, but the Blackhawks did not have the necessary jump and attention to detail to start this one tonight.

Gone are multiple Cup winners such as forwards Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Kris Versteeg and Brad Richards, and defenseman Johnny Oduya. “It’s kind of like my little getaway from everything is coming here, being with the guys, doing things I love”. “Nothing huge to worry about”. With Mats Zuccarello in the box for holding at 6:19, Lundqvist kept the Hawks, who pinned in the first penalty-kill unit for 1:25, from tying the game.

Babcock made the first coach’s challenge in National Hockey League history and was successful in overturning a goal.

Kane’s line with Artemi “Bread Man” Panarin and Artem Anisimov was one of the best in the game. Keith Yandle and Miller were given credits for these assists, and while they were still just starting to enjoy their lead again, Derek Stepan would get his first goal of the season with 59 seconds left in the opening period. He finished 8-21-29 last season and played an average of 20:20 time on ice. Tikhonov failed in his first National Hockey League stint in Arizona, and if he does not crack the roster in Chicago, he could go to the AHL or back to Russian Federation.

Still, there’s no doubt who came out on top this time.

This was way too long for the Rangers. The Oilers may not compete this year but they have the potential to be one of the best teams in the league in the near future.

Their skill was obvious. As it is, they have justified their name a few times in the past, and are certainly able to repeat that this season. “It keeps everyone on their toes”. They almost tied the score with 1:00 remaining, but Patrick Kane’s wound-be goal was waved off by the referees.

Surely, there will be growing pains throughout the season but Panarin didn’t show any in his debut. “It was a good start for him”.

It was for his linemates as well. The All-Star winger has not been charged, and has said he expects to be exonerated.

“No doubt those three were moving the puck well”, Toews said. Not to mention, the King in net is still at the top of his game. “We played sloppy with the puck and we were not connecting the dots”.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 32 of 34 shots, while Chicago’s Corey Crawford turned aside 24 of 27 shots. “I’m not going to lie, intermission I’ll be making my way to the bar to watch the Cubs game”, said Lisa Busse. “If we can do that in one game, I don’t think the season is going to reflect that at all”.