The Daily Scan: Flames home opener, tragic tale told to help others, injuries piling up

If you woke up without a $5,000 fine from the NHL, it’s been a good morning. In case you missed it, Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson took a hit to his wallet for hitting Kailer Yamamoto in the season opener. But it’s a new day with a home opener to play. Meanwhile, tragedy in Boston, serious injuries, and COVID absences are overshadowing the Auston Matthews debut in Toronto.

Happy Scanning!

Family tells Hayes’ story to prevent similar outcomes, exposes NHL injury challenges

— Our Boston Hockey Now writers were close to Jimmy Hayes, a kid who grew up just south of Boston, played at Boston College and spent two of his NHL seasons with the Bruins. The tragic story of his drug overdose and is being shared by his family to prevent others from suffering a similar fate.

— Let the jokes fly around the Tampa Bay Lightning and their ability to stash an injured Nikita Kucherov on LTIR until the NHL playoffs again. But if this is serious, the Bolts may not be deep enough to get back there without him this time.

Hearing the initial word on Nikita Kucherov is not positive and surgery could be involved. Assuming that's accurate, I'd expect him to miss some time moving forward, should know more later today #GoBolts #TBLightning

— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) October 18, 2021

— More COVID drama for the defending Presidents Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche. Adrian Dater at Colorado Hockey Now has you covered, as Nathan MacKinnon is barred from making the team’s roadie and Jack Johnson is awaiting a second negative test after testing positive over the weekend.

— As Vegas waits on the health of captain Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty became the latest Golden Knight to hit the IR

Leafs get Matthews back but Rangers shorthanded

— News Monday ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs Original Six battle with the New York Rangers. Defending Rocket Richard Trophy winner Auston Matthews returns to the lineup after missing Toronto’s first three games while recovering from wrist surgery. But, 20-year-old Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko, the second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least the final three games of the Blueshirts four-game road trip, if not more. He left in the 1st period of Saturday’s game against the Canadiens after multiple collisions with Montreal defenceman Alexander Romanov.

— We’ve talked a lot about Sam Bennett’s hot start, but career-long Florida Panther Jonathan Huberdeau became the first Cat to reach 500 points with the franchise during Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders, as reported by Florida Hockey Now.

— Hey, who had the Red Wings starting their season with three out of four points? If you put your hand up, you are a liar or a die-hard Wings fan.

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