CHICAGO (AP) Brandon Saad scored three times in his return to Chicago and Ryan Hartman had a goal and four assists, helping the Blackhawks pound the Pittsburgh Penguins 10-1 on Thursday night.

Nick Schmaltz added two goals and an assist as Chicago kicked off its season in style with a runaway victory against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Patrick Kane also had a goal and three assists in the Blackhawks' highest scoring game since a 10-1 win against Winnipeg on Oct. 12, 1988.

Pittsburgh was coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis in its season opener on Wednesday, and it looked every bit like a team on the second half of back-to-back nights. Antti Niemi was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots in his Penguins debut, forcing Matt Murray to come in after he took the loss against the Blues.

Sidney Crosby found Phil Kessel for a power-play goal at 2:05 of the second period, but Chicago already had a 5-0 lead at that point. It was the most goals allowed by Pittsburgh since a 10-8 loss to San Jose on Jan. 13, 1996.

The Blackhawks won the Central Division last season and finished with the most points in the Western Conference. But they were swept by Nashville in their second consecutive first-round loss, leading to a flurry of moves by admittedly angry general manager Stan Bowman.

Chicago, which won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, scored three goals in 13 periods in the series against Nashville. It got four in the first 9:16 against Pittsburgh.

Ryan Hartman scored off a slick pass from Kane at 6:21. After Saad got his first off a rush with Richard Panik, Kane made another great pass to set up Schmaltz's backhander at 7:34. Saad then beat Niemi with a well-placed shot through a crowd in front, and the rout was on.

The 24-year-old Saad began his career with Chicago and helped the Blackhawks win two Stanley Cups before he was traded to Columbus after the 2015 season. Bowman got him back in a blockbuster trade with the Blue Jackets in June, parting with dynamic winger Artemi Panarin in a multiplayer deal.

For one night at least, it looked like a smart move. Saad finished off his hat trick at 5:21 of the third, and Brent Seabrook made it 10-1 with a rebound goal with 6:15 remaining.

Hartman set a career high for points and assists in a game in Chicago's highest-scoring opener, topping an 8-6 victory at Nashville on Oct. 5, 2006. Patrick Sharp also scored in his return to Chicago after signing a team-friendly, one-year deal with the Blackhawks in the offseason.

The one downer for the Blackhawks was an injury for Schmaltz in the third. He skated off gingerly at 7:49 and was helped to the locker room.

NOTES: Sharp's first-period goal was his 600th career point. ... Blackhawks F Marian Hossa was greeted with a huge roar when he was introduced with the team before the game. Hossa has been ruled out for the season due to a progressive skin disorder, and it's unclear if he will be able to play again. ... Former Blackhawks F Bryan Bickell received a standing ovation when he took one more skate with the team during the pregame festivities. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last November and signed a one-day contract Wednesday to retire with the Blackhawks.

UP NEXT

Penguins: Host Nashville on Saturday night.

Blackhawks: Host Columbus on Saturday night.

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The hat trick is en vogue on opening nights around the NHL, and some history has been made in the process.

Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Simmonds, and Brandon Saad all scored three times in their first games of the campaign, marking the first time since 1917-18 that four hat tricks were registered in season-opening contests.

McDavid and Simmonds both capped three-goal nights with empty-netters Wednesday, while Ovechkin and Saad pulled off the feat Thursday in their respective openers.

The last time four hat tricks were notched in each of the players' opening games in the same season, it was accomplished by Harry Hyland of the Montreal Wanderers, Joe Malone of the Montreal Canadiens, Cy Denneny of the Ottawa Senators, and Reg Noble of the Toronto Arenas back in that 1917-18 campaign.

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Alex Ovechkin doesn't need much time to beat you.

The Washington Capitals captain scored three third-period goals against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday to record his 18th career hat trick.

With the trick, Ovechkin is now up to 561 tallies for his career, passing Guy Lafleur and tying Mike Modano for 24th on the all-time goals list.

He also becomes the second Capitals player in history to score a hat trick in a season-opening game, joining Mikhail Grabovski, according to NHL Public Relations.

Ovechkin would cap off the night with another goal in the shootout.

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Seeing where you're passing is overrated for Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane.

The slick playmaker delivered two uncanny no-look passes Thursday night that led directly to goals.

Not to be outdone by himself, Kane also used his trademark spin-o-rama to set up Nick Schmaltz for Chicago's third of the game.

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Even former NHL tough guys can get emotional when the moment calls for it.

Louie DeBrusk, father of Boston Bruins rookie Jake and a veteran of more than 400 NHL games himself, teared up when his son notched the first goal of his career Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.

It was a big night for Bruins rookies and their parents, as defenseman Charlie McAvoy buried his first NHL goal to the delight of his mom and dad about 10 minutes later.

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

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That's what you get for $80 million.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel gave a quick reminder just why he deserves to be paid top dollar in this league, setting up Jason Pominville with a sweet saucer pass for an easy one-timer goal.

The assist was Eichel's first point of the 2017-18 season. Meanwhile, Pominville's goal was his second of the night coming in his first regular season game with the Sabres since 2013.

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The Dominator would be proud.

In Hasek-like form, Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk flopped onto his back to make an acrobatic save with his arm Thursday, robbing Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist on a breakaway. Here's a closer look:

Dubnyk's combination of size (6-foot-6) and athleticism has made him one of the league's best goaltenders.

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Boston Bruins forward David Backes is expected to miss three to four weeks with diverticulitis, the team announced Thursday.

Backes will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, but the ailment is expected to keep him out longer.

The 33-year-old is entering the second year of a five-year, $30-million contract and is coming off his first season with the Bruins in which he scored 17 goals and 38 points in 74 games.

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One day after Connor McDavid made franchise history with an opening-night hat trick against the Calgary Flames, one of the all-time greats said he believes the Edmonton Oilers superstar can break Wayne Gretzky's record for goals in a season.

"McDavid is just too good, man," Flames forward Jaromir Jagr told reporters Thursday, via TSN. "If he would learn how to score on breakaways a little more, I think he would score 150 (goals) a season. To score 100 for him, it's possible. He scored three and had another three breakaways (Wednesday night), so I've never seen anything like that in my life, somebody dominating like that."

Jagr believes the modern game and its emphasis on quickness is ideal for McDavid and his uncanny wheels.

"With his speed, in this game right now when you can't hold anyone up, it's very dangerous," Jagr said. "Probably Wayne and Mario (Lemieux) were the same way, but you could grab them (and) hold them with the stick. Right now, (these) rules are just perfect (for) him, so I wouldn't be surprised if some day he scored 100 goals and (broke) the record. It is possible."

Gretzky holds the all-time record with 92 goals in a single season, a feat he accomplished back in 1981-82.

McDavid potted 30 goals in his first full campaign in 2016-17, adding 70 assists to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point producer, and later winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

The 20-year-old notched 44 goals and 120 points in his final season with the OHL's Erie Otters in 2014-15.

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The Anaheim Ducks are starting 2017-18 with their wings clipped.

Head coach Randy Carlyle announced Ryan Getzlaf will not be able to suit up for Thursday's season opener against the Arizona Coyotes as a result of a lower-body injury.

As such, Anaheim takes an early lead in a dubious category:

Getzlaf joins significant teammates also starting the season on the sidelines:

• Ryan Kesler - recovering from hip surgery
• Sami Vatanen - recovering from labrum surgery
• Hampus Lindholm - recovering from labrum surgery
• Ryan Miller - upper body
• Patrick Eaves - lower body

At last official word, the Ducks are hopeful Kesler can return from hip injury by the holiday break in December, while Lindholm and Vatanen should play at some point in November. All three represent important pieces for the reigning Pacific Division champions.

The other two aren't expected to be out long term, but are no less integral to the team's success. Eaves - who scored 33 goals last season between Dallas and Anaheim - was a major trade-deadline addition and was signed to a three-year contract in the offseason with a view to boosting the offense.

Miller, meanwhile, was signed as a free agent to spell John Gibson in net. Reto Berra steps into that role in his absence, meaning Gibson may have to carry a heavier load than necessary right out of the gate.

Anaheim has the depth on the blue line to survive, but its forward ranks look pretty thin without Getzlaf, Kesler, and Eaves:

(Image courtesy: Daily Faceoff)

Playoff spots and championships obviously aren't clinched in October, but teams can ill afford to get off to a rocky start in a league that boasts a fairly level playing field.

The Alberta teams are chomping at the bit to hunt the Ducks, and Anaheim's California neighbors will need all the help they can get to stay in a playoff picture likely to be loaded with Central Division clubs.

If these Ducks stay grounded for too long, all bets are off in the Pacific.

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