What do you need to know about last night's games? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, "Morning, Joe."
Double trouble: The Montreal Canadiens began last season 9-0-0. Defenseman P.K. Subban was on that team. After a 3-0 win Wednesday over the Vancouver Canucks, the Canadiens have begun this season 9-0-1. Subban is not on this team. He was traded during the offseason to the Nashville Predators straight up for defenseman Shea Weber. Records aside, this version of the Canadiens is much better than last season's. Weber brings a different dynamic both on and off the ice, and the back end is more stable. Weber has four goals and six assists for 10 points in 10 games, and is a plus-14. He's averaging more than 25 minutes per game. For the Predators, Subban has two goals and three assists for five points in nine games. He's a minus-6 and is averaging 24 minutes per game. With a healthy Carey Price, who made 42 saves in the shutout against the Canucks, along with Weber's play and leadership, the Canadiens will be atop the Atlantic Division for the majority of this season. Weber is a major reason that this team is legit.
Loui's better than this: After he signed a six-year deal worth $36 million with the Canucks, veteran forward Loui Eriksson was expected to have an immediate impact while playing on the same line with Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. The Swedish trio played together during the World Cup of Hockey and their evident chemistry was a good sign of things to come for the Canucks. It hasn't continued into the NHL season. Canucks coach Willie Desjardins has moved Eriksson off the top line, and after a 3-0 loss Wednesday to the Canadiens, Eriksson remains without a goal and has only four assists in his first 10 games for the Canucks. Eriksson is not alone in his scoring drought: Vancouver has scored just 17 goals in 10 games. Eriksson is a world-class player and was one of the Boston Bruins' best players. He will break out -- it won't be long before he finds his game and is reunited with the Sedins.
Merry Kris-mas: After missing five games with an upper-body injury, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang scored a goal, added an assist and was a plus-3 to help his team to a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night. He's as important to Pittsburgh's success as any player in the lineup, including the best in the world, Sidney Crosby. In fact, Letang was a close second to Crosby for the Conn Smythe after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup over the San Jose Sharks in June. Letang scored an incredible goal that proved to be the winner in Pittsburgh's 3-1 win in the deciding Game 6 victory. The Penguins' potent offense begins with its defense, and Letang leads the way. When he has the puck, good things happen. Last season, he had a career-high 67 points, and he has not skipped a beat on his return. Oh, and by the way, Penguins' Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray made his first start of the season on Wednesday after breaking his thumb during the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America. He finished with 32 saves.