Breagbag wrote:

What a phantom call on Levshunov. Wow.

You ain’t lying. Tough enough assignment to go play the champs on the road in the season opener as a really young club make calls like this hurt. Hey, it happens but it ain’t like Artie is not gonna give the refs 5-6 chances a game to call him on a reach foul. Then the poor kid is schooled by The Rat as he skates into Lev’s stick and draws a trip. …….. Rough period for Rinzel and The Cossack. Florida is the worst matchup for these two kids. They exploit and expose every damn thing.

Nice play by Nazar’s line to score but Bedard’s line was by far their best in the period. Like the look of the kid. ….. Outshot 17-3 in the period but for 10 minutes it was competitive. …. Still can not believe Knight is a Hawk!!

• This reply was modified 2 hours, 7 minutes ago by Mr Ricochet.

Good compete from Hawks in first 2 periods on opening night, they think they can win this one.

After the 1st I was about to post this was the most enjoyable and encouraged I’ve been watching Bedard as a pro. After 2 periods I can say it. That inside out move he pants Jones on showed how lightning quick his hands are. Reminded me of his rookie yr in EDM when both he and McDavid executed the exact same inside out move and to my eye on a couple replays Bedard’s hands were quicker than McD’s. …. Not claiming he has better hands than McD but IMO they’re quicker.

Very nice feed at pace to Dach. Him coming with speed backed the Dman off which allowed for a seam that Bedard anticipated and threaded. ….. Kid really has the look.

Gotta love whatever Blashill did between periods. Outshot 17-3, two young Dmen getting exposed and they come out and hol to FLA to 5-6 SOG….One shot and 14 great saves by Knight away from the group stunning the champs. How nice would that be to start the Blashill era with a win at FLA??

Metalhead wrote:

Powers mentioned that Lev looked more comfortable in period 2.

Is that true? Was he less “Golden Retriever Puppy” than usual?

I don’t know it’s so much that Artie did anything special in the 2nd as much as he wasn’t noticeable. But that changed at the 13:00 mark of the 3rd if you’re watching. Bad play comes back for a partial breakaway.

Boy, DelMastro is taking his lumps and tangled foots…