With two teams entering transition, it was an electric and emotional night ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes at Nationwide Arena. Elvis Merzlikins made his first career opening night start, wearing No. 80 to honor Matiss Kivleniekss after Kivleniekss’s tragic passing this summer. Carter Hutton presided over the opposite net for Arizona.
Brad Larsen and André Tourigny each made their head coaching debuts and Boone Jenner ushered in a new era as the team’s seventh captain in history.
Alexandre Texier scored the first goal of 2021-22 with Max Domi making his presence felt, both physically and on the scoresheet with the assist.