The Daily Sniper: Playing a Close Game is SOOOO Opening Night

News and notes from last night's action...

Wait... WAIT... HOLD ON A SECOND!!! See that blonde? Fourth row above the Zamboni entrance. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

On Friday night, three games were decided by three or more goals and the remaining three games were all decided by two goals. So much for opening night, when every game was decided by one goal and all but one went into overtime.

San Jose 3, Vancouver 1 -- Jeremy Roenick totaled only 12 minutes of ice time, but scored two first period goals to singlehandedly defeat the hometown Canucks. Yes, you heard me right. Roenick scored twice. How many times he scored off the ice is unknown at this point in time. Joe Thornton had his second goal in as many nights, and the Canucks were held in check in their home opener. Home openers spoiled so far: 1.

Islanders 6, Sabres 4 -- You read that score right; the Islanders really did manage to score six goals. The teams combined for six goals in the first, before quieting down. The Isles top line of Guerin-Comrie-Fedotenko combined for 10 points and three goals. Thomas Vanek had a goal, and both Rick DiPietro and Martin Biron Ryan Miller looked compeltely human. Home openers spoiled so far: 2.

Columbus 4, Anaheim 0 -- Ok, yeah, jet lag. We get it, now play some damn hockey! Anaheim continued to stink it up on North American soil, by getting trounced in the BJ's home opener. Hehe... BJs. Bad news for the Ducks is that they had to fly to Pittsburgh for tonight's game then back to Anaheim for a two-week home stand. Rick Nash had a hand in every Blue Jacket goal, totaling four points, and Sergei Fedorov had two points.

Washington 3, Atlanta 1 -- The Capitals put up three goals in Atlanta to great impress Czar Bettman, who was in attendance. Michael Nylander and Victor Kozlov had goals for the Caps, and Nicklas Backstrom notched his first NHL point by assisting on Nylander's first period goal. Home openers spoiled so far: 2.

Carolina 4, Pittsburgh 1 -- The Man cannot keep Eric Staal down! Staal scored two in the first for the Hurricanes who held a 4-0 lead going into the final period. Mark Recchi scored the long Pittsburgh goal. It also appeared as if Cam Ward knew what he was doing in net.

Minnesota Dallas 4, Boston 1 -- Did you really expect any other result?