CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers would be opening the season Sunday at home against an opponent other than the?Denver Broncos?if?coach Ron Rivera had a say in the schedule.But I dont, Rivera said Sunday.Instead, the Panthers will travel to face the Broncos on Thursday in the NFLs season opener. Denver defeated Carolina, of course, in February in Super Bowl 50.The Panthers were in what Rivera called a mad scramble on Sunday to get the practice squad signed and check the waiver wire for potential players who could improve the roster before practice began around 1:30 p.m.Many of the practice team players arrived late because they had just gotten their paperwork done.Normally, the Panthers would have all day Sunday to get this done while players are off. They wouldnt start practicing for a Sunday season opener until Monday, along with the rest of the league.Carolina and Denver, which kick off the NFL season Thursday night at Sports Authority Field, practiced Sunday because they have only seven days between their preseason finale and the opener.We only have a week [to prepare] where other teams will have 10 days that you kind of need to have, Rivera said. It was a mad scramble trying to put your roster together and get your practice squad out there.I think its been 20-something years that the Super Bowl rematch, that people like to call it, is going to happen. Defending NFC champs, it would have been nice to open the season at home, but it didnt happen that way. William Nylander Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Bruce Boudreau Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.cheapmapleleafsjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-turk-broda-jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Curtis McElhinney Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Morgan Rielly Jersey . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. The Circus Trip is living up to its name for the Chicago Blackhawks.Coming off its most thrilling win this season, Chicago seeks its third consecutive victory Monday night when it visits the Edmonton Oilers, who will try to build off a career milestone from 19-year-old captain Connor McDavid.When the circus comes to Chicagos United Center every November, it forces both the Blackhawks and the NBAs Bulls on extended road trips. Rogers Place will be the fourth stop on a seven-game trek for the Blackhawks (13-4-2), who head to California after this contest.First, they look for their 10th win in the past 11 against the Oilers -- including five of six in Edmonton. Over the past 10 matchups, the Blackhawks have scored 41 goals while allowing only 21.If the Blackhawks are to continue their success against the Oilers, then they must do so on the heels of an improbable 4-3 overtime win Saturday over the Vancouver Canucks. With Chicago down 3-0 in the third period, Artemi Panarin, Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman scored before Marian Hossa tallied the game-winner in the final minute of the extra session after an apparent overtime goal was overturned.Hossa also broke a 2-2 tie with 2:23 to play Friday night, lifting Chicago to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. In 10 games this month, Hossa has eight goals -- including three game-winners -- and two assists.Hossa continues to do what hes been doing all year; hes been scoring some huge goals for us. Biggest one weve scored all year, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Saturdays win.Hossa, who turns 38 on Jan. 12, leads the team with 11 goals, and he has notched two goals and six assists in a four-game points streak in Edmonton. That includes an overtime marker that lifted Chicago to a 4-3 win on Nov. 18, 2015.Though he has faced Edmonton only three times and taken just nine shots, Panarin -- who beat out McDavid for the 2016 Calder Trophy as the top rookie -- has four goals and three assists.After Scott Darling started against the Canucks, Corey Crawford will likely be back in goal for Chicago on Monday. Crawford has allowed just nine goals in his past four road games, winning threee of those contests.dddddddddddd He is 4-1-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average over five career starts in Edmonton.Our goaltending is the reason why weve been doing well all year, said Quenneville, whose team has opened up a five-point lead over the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division.After being a league doormat in recent season, the Oilers (10-8-1) have been at or near the top of the Pacific Division for much of this season, but it has been a roller coaster ride.They are currently in a tie with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks for the top spot.Edmonton got off to a 7-1-0 start before coming back to Earth with a 3-7-1 stretch that included a five-game losing streak.That was snapped Saturday night when McDavids first career hat trick helped the Oilers to a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars.Three pretty lucky goals, McDavid said. Its a funny league that works that way. You get grade-A chances and theyre not going in, then you start putting it there and they are going in. Its weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump.McDavid leads Edmonton with eight goals and 14 assists through 19 games, but he has failed to score a goal in four consecutive home games. This also is McDavids first chance to face the Blackhawks -- a broken collarbone as a rookie last season limited the top overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to 45 games.Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said the Oilers shouldnt get overly excited about the win at Dallas.We still have a lot of work to do, McLellan said. Frustrating in some areas of the game, but we cant over-evaluate a win right now. Well take it any way we can get it. Reload and get back home.Edmonton has managed just three goals while dropping three straight in its new arena to fall to 4-4-0 at home. The Oilers have also scored only two power-play goals in 25 chances at Rogers Place so far.Goaltender Cam Talbot has never faced the Blackhawks while with Edmonton. As a member of the New York Rangers, Talbot went 1-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .968 save percentage against Chicago. ' ' '