National Hockey

MONTREAL — Cayden Primeau did not look out of place on the Bell Centre ice. The Canadiens goaltender stopped 32-of-35 shots in his NHL debut, coming up just short in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Artemi Panarin dazzled once again in Columbus. This time he was playing for the New York Rangers. Panarin scored the decisive goal in his return to Ohio, leading the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Petr Mrazek took San Jose's best shot — squarely in the chin — and it knocked him to the ice. The Carolina goalie picked himself up, and when the game was on the line, he stopped the Sharks cold.

BOSTON — The Bruins haven't lost in regulation at home yet, and there they were trailing the Blackhawks 3-0 in the third period — Boston's first three-goal deficit of the season.

PHILADELPHIA — Phil Kessel has overcome a slow start and is headed in the right direction for the Arizona Coyotes. Kessel scored two goals to lead the Coyotes to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

Former NHL player Brent Sopel says his stories on a year-old podcast about rough treatment from Marc Crawford were meant "to entertain the listener" and not to make allegations against his former coach.

TORONTO — It was pointed out to Cale Makar back in September he didn't seem at all daunted by sky-high expectations.

CALGARY — A deal to build a new arena in downtown Calgary is official after definitive agreements were signed between the city, the Calgary Flames hockey organization and the Calgary Stampede.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau will make his NHL debut tonight when the rookie starts against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.

Los Angeles Kings (11-16-2, eighth in the Pacific Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (17-10-3, first in the Pacific Division) Edmonton, Alberta; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Edmonton hosts Los Angeles looking to break its three-game home skid.