What happened last night that you need to know about? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.Avs starting strong: The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins had a chance to start the season 3-0-0, but the Colorado Avalanche beat them 4-3 in overtime Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in the third period and then the winner in OT. Despite the absence of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who remains sidelined with a concussion, the Penguins have been impressive in their Stanley Cup defense. However, youve got to like what were seeing from the 2-0-0 Avalanche, who missed the playoffs the past two seasons. After coach Patrick Roys surprising exit during the offseason, GM Joe Sakic hired up-and-coming AHL coach Jared Bednar for the job, a key hire. Landeskog has great puck-protection instincts and needs to keep his legs moving to be effective, which he did exactly that against the Penguins. Re-signing goalie Calvin Pickard was a good move for the Avalanche. His teammates respect him and he will push No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov. Joe Colborne, who scored a hat trick in his first game of the season, is versatile and he will help the teams possession game. Ultimately, the teams core players -- captain Landeskog, 23, Nathan MacKinnon, 21, and Matt Duchene, 25 -- need to set the tempo. Those players are at an age where theyre ready to lead and if they and the Avs continue like they have in the first two games, then Colorado should like its chances of returning to the postseason in April.Kreider a pain in the butt: Two summers ago, New York Rangers Chris Kreider played a charity game in Boston like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. The game was loaded with current and former NHLers and his tenacity was on full display. That hasnt always been the case on a consistent basis during past regular seasons for Kreider. The 25-year-old forward is off to a solid start this season and hell need to continue that if the Rangers are to be successful. He has registered at least one goal and one assist in each of the Rangers first three games of 2016-17. His six points and three-game scoring streak is a career high. Even though its early in the season, Kreider has found chemistry with linemates Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. Kreider is showing his strengths as a power forward and hes been a pain in the butt for the opposition. The Rangers are 2-1-0 after Mondays 7-4 win against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden.Vanek not done yet: Sure, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Greens first career hat trick en route to a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators Monday night was impressive. It was the first three-goal game by a Red Wings blueliner since Nicklas Lidstrom on Dec. 15, 2010. But it wasnt Greens heroics I focused on: It was the three assists by Wings newcomer Thomas Vanek that had me smiling. After the Minnesota Wild bought out Vaneks contract during the summer, the Red Wings took a low-risk chance and signed the 32-year-old forward to a one-year deal worth $2.6 million. Vanek was signed because of his ability to produce, especially on the power play. In Detroits first three games this season, Vanek has two goals (one on the power play) and three assists for five points. If he can continue this pace for the majority of the season, it could turn into an incredible offseason transaction for the Red Wings. Wholesale Suns Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Alvan Adams Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/879z-stephon-marbury-jersey-suns.html . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Paul Silas Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Cedric Ceballos Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. ESPN NRL expert Brett Kimmorley looks at another weekend of rugby league action, and reveals the good, bad and ugly from round 20 of the NRL in his latest edition of Set of Six.Spine and playmakers super important in NRLHaving a spine or having good playmakers is super important to any football side.We saw a masterclass from Johnathan Thurston against Canterbury, and a little bit also from Michael Morgan. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, copped a fair bit of criticism for not having playmakers who can dictate a football side. Traditionally the Bulldogs have been run on a big pack of forwards, but they generally dont have those halves like other teams have got.We then saw on Friday night Nathan Cleary make a fair statement that it doesnt matter how old you are: if youre good enough, youre old enough, is the old saying.Cooper Cronk put in another strong display over the weekend for Melbourne, Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts for the Titans; whatever team won on the weekend, I think its fair to say their playmakers challenged the defensive line.Cowboys make a timely statementOrigin has obviously affected a lot of teams over the past few months, but the Cowboys had their best team on the park on Thursday night for a number of weeks.They had Michael Morgan back, Kane Linnett back from injury, and Johnathan Thurston; I know JT has a slight hamstring injury but it was a pretty fair statement from the premiers. It sent a timely reminder about how much attack they have, and how fast they play and how they have an ability to handle pressure.The only thing that you could think would derail them would be an away semifinal so theyd have to travel, but they overcame that adversity last year and learned how to win away from home.They could actually throw the theory out the window that you have to be in the top four to win the competition.Titans looking more and more like a top-eight teamThe Titans dont have many big-name players but I like the fact that theyre having a go. The blueprint for any football side is just to turn up and make an effort. If you have a go, youre a great chance of winning a football game.Some sides are a little bit out of form at the moment, and those with highly talented rosters should look at the Titans and how they are playing.Neil Henry has done a wonderful job as coach. Think of where they were a year ago, when they missed out on Daly Cherry-Evans and their whole world was going to explode. They also lost James Roberts due to their own poor dealings and administration.Theyre being more selective with who they sign, and Chris McQueen, who played for Queensland two or three years ago, looks like an Origin player again. Tyrone Roberts couldnt get two good games out in a row for Newcastle, and now hes on fire every week.They probably got luccky with Nathan Peats, but theyre building a good team; after all their bad business decisions of the past, they look like theyre getting it right.ddddddddddddStorm are just too clinicalThe Storm are very clinical in every game they play. I thought they showed through Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith against Sydney Roosters why Melbourne Storm are highly successful, and their players lift and respect each others input into the football club.It was Old Boys Day in Melbourne on Saturday, and the Roosters had their best team on the park this year with plenty to play for, but I thought the Melbourne Storm were great in winning quite comfortably. It was a nice timely message.The Storm execute plays better than any team in the competition and they do it more often and better than anyone. Theyre still the benchmark in this competition.Roosters got it wrong with Blake Ferguson at fullbackThe Roosters got it horribly wrong playing Blake Ferguson at fullback with Latrell Mitchell on the wing. Mitchell is a developing fullback whos done a few things wrong over the past couple of weeks, but I think theyve got to persist. Blake Ferguson added nothing and got caught severely out of position.And if Latrell Mitchell is going to play on the wing then hes got to play on the left wing. Hes a left-hand carrier of the ball and right-hand fender, and I thought that commonsense would dictate you dont play him in a position where he has to fend across his body.The Roosters positioning was all wrong and they have to fix their attack because they played sideways; that doesnt works anymore due to the faster play-the-ball speed. Youve got to run straight and youve got to run through the holes.I dont like how they play. and I think they need to make some small adjustments in how they attack; their attack goes against what the trend of the game, which has the play-the-ball back in favour of the attacking side so it means youve got to get over the advantage line.Broncos will struggle to turn season around before NRL finalsI tipped the Broncos to win the competition at the start of the year but theyre in a big hole and I dont know if they can turn it around within the next six weeks.Their discipline is letting them down and theyve had a few players at the weekend, theyre leaking points, and coach Wayne Bennett admitted that he cant explain why theyre playing so badly.The win against Souths in the previous round was a little flattering, and I dont think their form over the past few weeks is anything to get excited about. Traditionally theyve been a side that relies on defence and discipline, but that has deserted them. I think theyre a huge hole. ' ' '