As the NHL season opens this week, Denver Post hockey writer Mike Chambers takes a look at the top story lines across the league.
Eastern Conference story lines:
- Toronto is the capital of the hockey world, and now the Maple Leafs might have the next Gretzky in rookie Auston Matthews, who on Wednesday became the first player in NHL history to score four goals in his first NHL game.
- Washington star Alex Ovechkin, 31, is coming off his third consecutive 50-goal season, and seventh overall. He has 525 career goals. When will this amazing goal scorer slow down?