The Daily Scan: Calgary Flames finally ready for action, Devils love Dougie, and grandma wants to ride the Zamboni

Calgary Flames game day. There’s something people have been waiting a long time to say again. Enjoy the Battle of Alberta in Edmonton tonight, but before you do, take a look at what’s happening across the Canada Hockey Now network and beyond, where people are freaking out about the Montreal Canadiens’ early (lack of) returns the same way fans here are erupting over Oliver Kylington’s fate. And below the border, there’s outrage in Pittsburgh and bandwagon fans hopping off. (Don’t break your ankles on the jump). Oh, and does ex-Flame Dougie Hamilton ever look good as a New Jersey Devil.

Happy Scanning!

What’s up across Canada Hockey Now

Toronto: What’s at stake this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Absolutely everything. Everything is at stake. 

That’s even better if you read it in Anton Chigurh’s voice (No Country for Old Men), but Will Arnett voicing All or Nothing is acceptable, too.

Montreal: Smothered by the Buffalo Sabres…BUFFALO?!…Mitch Gallo took the Canadiens to the woodshed. If the Montreal Canadiens are to make the playoffs, they cannot lose to…BUFFALO?!

Vancouver: Our exclusive chat with NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. Olympics. COVID. Ovechkin. 

Run to the border: Hot topics across National Hockey Now

Boston: PAYDAY! Boston Bruins, meet Charlie McAvoy’s accountant. Charlie, don’t spend the $9.5 million AAV in one place. 

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski upset a few folks while writing about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ battle with fickle fans. The bandwagon fans are leaving the Penguins. Good riddance. 

NYI: The New York Islanders got rocked in their season opener against Carolina. It has our NYI folks already worryingabout the long-stagnant power play. 

Washington: What does the future look like without Alex Ovechkin? We don’t want to find that out anytime soon, but Lapierre-Mania is taking hold in D.C., and the Capitals youth movement is underway. 

Florida: The Panthers season opener showed how deep they are and rookie Anton Lundell impressed more than a few people. 

Detroit: Dylan Larkin got the gate for one game. In the process, an injury could keep him out longer. Heaven help the Red Wings. 

Saturday is the 75th anniversary of Mr. Gordie Howe’s NHL debut. Wow. 

Colorado: Adrian Dater reports that Nathan MacKinnon won’t play today. Valeri Nichushkin is out week-to-week, and Gabriel Landeskog was suspended for two games. Their top three forwards are OUT.

San Jose: Potential super rookie William Eklund turned 19, and celebrated his birthday at…no joke…IKEA.

Vegas: The Golden Knights are off to a bad start. They also lost star winger Mark Stone to injury. 

In other NHL news we think Calgary Flames fans want to know

New Jersey: Former Flames defenceman Dougie Hamilton took just 17 seconds to make his presence felt in a New Jersey Devils uniform. After signing a seven-year deal with the Devils in free agency, he netted the fastest goal by any defenseman to start a season-opening game in NHL history, and the fastest by a blueliner in his debut with any franchise.

Philadelphia: Sorry, but any time a grandma wearing a jersey backwards on a Zamboni is out there on the internet, we’re going to share. Cam Atkinson’s grandmother Marge is all the rage in Philly.

Enjoy that hockey!