Nedeljkovic, the expected backup when healthy, shared a net with 22-year-old prospect Joel Blomqvist. He signed a two-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million average annual value) to stay in Pittsburgh on June 20 after starting 12 of the final 13 games last season.

Sorokin, for all the worry about his physical health and how the way last season ended might have affected him mentally, looked just fine from the first shot of the night — a Nathan MacKinnon

It was a bit of a head-scratcher when New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy shared ahead of opening night that Kyle MacLean would be taking the face-offs on the fourth line over Casey Cizikas. MacLean,

Brock Nelson scored his first two goals of the season 2:49 apart in the second period, and the New York Islanders beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 to give coach Patrick Roy a win in his first game back in Denver.