What happened last night that you need to know about? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, "Morning, Joe."
Avs starting strong: The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins had a chance to start the season 3-0-0, but the Colorado Avalanche beat them 4-3 in overtime Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in the third period and then the winner in OT. Despite the absence of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who remains sidelined with a concussion, the Penguins have been impressive in their Stanley Cup defense. However, you've got to like what we're seeing from the 2-0-0 Avalanche, who missed the playoffs the past two seasons. After coach Patrick Roy's surprising exit during the offseason, GM Joe Sakic hired up-and-coming AHL coach Jared Bednar for the job, a key hire. Landeskog has great puck-protection instincts and needs to keep his legs moving to be effective, which he did exactly that against the Penguins. Re-signing goalie Calvin Pickard was a good move for the Avalanche. His teammates respect him and he will push No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov. Joe Colborne, who scored a hat trick in his first game of the season, is versatile and he will help the team's possession game. Ultimately, the team's core players -- captain Landeskog, 23, Nathan MacKinnon, 21, and Matt Duchene, 25 -- need to set the tempo. Those players are at an age where they're ready to lead and if they and the Avs continue like they have in the first two games, then Colorado should like its chances of returning to the postseason in April.
Kreider a pain in the butt: Two summers ago, New York Rangers' Chris Kreider played a charity game in Boston like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. The game was loaded with current and former NHLers and his tenacity was on full display. That hasn't always been the case on a consistent basis during past regular seasons for Kreider. The 25-year-old forward is off to a solid start this season and he'll need to continue that if the Rangers are to be successful. He has registered at least one goal and one assist in each of the Rangers' first three games of 2016-17. His six points and three-game scoring streak is a career high. Even though it's early in the season, Kreider has found chemistry with linemates Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. Kreider is showing his strengths as a power forward and he's been a pain in the butt for the opposition. The Rangers are 2-1-0 after Monday's 7-4 win against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden.
Vanek not done yet: Sure, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green's first career hat trick en route to a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators Monday night was impressive. It was the first three-goal game by a Red Wings blueliner since Nicklas Lidstrom on Dec. 15, 2010. But it wasn't Green's heroics I focused on: It was the three assists by Wings newcomer Thomas Vanek that had me smiling. After the Minnesota Wild bought out Vanek's contract during the summer, the Red Wings took a low-risk chance and signed the 32-year-old forward to a one-year deal worth $2.6 million. Vanek was signed because of his ability to produce, especially on the power play. In Detroit's first three games this season, Vanek has two goals (one on the power play) and three assists for five points. If he can continue this pace for the majority of the season, it could turn into an incredible offseason transaction for the Red Wings.