Grüße und Vorstellung » The NHLPA also released a statement Friday

TORONTO (AP) — John Tavares let out a big sigh of relief during the pregame introductions.The Toronto Maple Leafs did the same thing after an ugly season-opening victory.Auston Matthews scored his second goal of the night at 1:01 of overtime to give Toronto a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.Matthews took a feed from Patrick Marleau off the rush and beat goalie Carey Price high past the blocker.“It was a perfect pass http://www.officialislanders.com/authentic-adidas-mathew-barzal-jersey ,” Matthews said. “Patty had me there and I was able to just get it over him.”Tavares scored his first goal for Toronto, but for much of the game, Montreal that had the upper hand as Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen was forced to make 34 saves, including 15 in the third period.“They kind of outworked us,” Matthews said. “A lot we can learn moving forward.”Toronto coach Mike Babcock was happy with the victory, but not how his team got there.“Montreal played with great effort and great structure http://www.officialislanders.com/authentic-adidas-nick-leddy-jersey ,” Babcock said. “In the end, we won the game, but we have to work way harder and play way better than we did tonight.”Tavares received a raucous ovation when his name was announced as the final player to come out of the tunnel before puck drop, and seemed relieved to finally be in a game that mattered after so much hype.“It was tremendous,” Tavares said. “To have that type of welcoming from this fanbase and this city is pretty special.”Nazem Kadri had two assists for the Maple Leafs.“They’ve got a lot of players that can move the puck on both sides of their stick,” Price said. “They’ve got a lot of skill up front and they seem to find each other. They’re a pretty good squad.”Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Shaw scored for Montreal http://www.floridapanthersteamshops.com/authentic-james-reimer-jersey , and Price made 23 saves. Max Domi, the son of former Leafs tough guy Tie Domi, had two assists in his first game for the Canadiens.Montreal rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the first NHL player born in the 2000s, picked up an assist. The Finn, who turned 18 in July http://www.hurricanesshoponline.com/authentic-jeff-skinner-jersey , also became the second-youngest player in Canadiens’ history to score a point.NOTES: Montreal coach Claude Julien sent a strong message to his team before puck drop by making 30-year-old defenseman Karl Alzner and 35-year-old center Tomas Plekanec healthy scratches. The move ended Alzner’s consecutive games streak at 622, the fourth-most among active players. “They’re never easy decisions,” Julien said. “I think it’s pretty obvious that there’s two things happening there to those players, but I think at the end of the day we’re all mandated to do what’s best for the team first.”UP NEXT:Canadiens: At Pittsburgh on Saturday night.Maple Leafs: Hosts Ottawa on Saturday night. NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL is criticizing an arbitrator’s decision to reduce the suspension of Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson, who pleaded no contest in July to a domestic assault charge. Watson received a 27-game suspension from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman last month. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday that arbitrator Shyam Das had reduced it to 18 games .The NHL issued a statement Friday saying that “we are disappointed with the Arbitrator’s decision.”“We firmly believe that the right of appeal to an arbitrator of League discipline was never intended to substitute the arbitrator’s judgment for that of the Commissioner, particularly on matters of important League policy and the articulation of acceptable standards of conduct for individuals involved in the National Hockey League http://www.hurricanesshoponline.com/authentic-justin-williams-jersey ,” the NHL said in its statement.The NHL added that “we will not hesitate to adhere to and enforce — through firm discipline as necessary — the standards of personal conduct we feel are appropriate for our league.”The NHL doesn’t have a written domestic violence policy and takes each situation on a case by case basis.The NHLPA also released a statement Friday, saying: “The NHLPA takes domestic violence seriously and continues to work together with the NHL to ensure that players are educated on this important societal issue. “As part of those efforts, the NHL/NHLPA conduct domestic violence awareness training at our Rookie Orientation Program and during the season for all NHL players.“The CBA provides players with the right to appeal discipline imposed by the NHL for off-ice conduct to an impartial arbitrator. This essential right is intended to encourage the fair and consistent application of discipline. The arbitrator’s independence helps ensure that the process and decision are fair. That is a principle to which we should always strive to adhere, even in cases where the subject matter is as difficult as domestic violence.” Watson was arrested June 16 after a witness flagged down a police officer to a gas station in Franklin, Tennessee. Watson told police he and his girlfriend were arguing and that he pushed her. Officers said they found red marks on her chest, and she said Watson caused them. Watson pleaded no contest to domestic assault on July 24. He can have the misdemeanor charge dismissed by fulfilling terms of his judicial diversion program. Watson must serve three months of probation and complete both an in-patient treatment program and a batterer’s intervention program.Watson is a former first-round draft pick who scored a career-high 14 goals and had five assists in 76 games during the 2017-18 regular season. He had five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games.The 26-year-old Watson has 23 goals and 24 assists in 216 career regular-season games Minnesota Wild Hoodies Womens , all with the Predators.