NHL Saturday: Goaltender showdown in Pittsburgh

How much time was left? Less than a second. A tenth of a second, to be exact.

Smith’s goal was the first of his NHL career and just the 14th time in NHL history that a goalie has scored.

The team announced after its 2-1 loss that Briere suffered a concussion after playing just a little over four minutes.

In eight games with the Canadiens this season he has scored one goal to go with two assists, and is coming off one of his least productive seasons in the NHL when he scored just six goals in 34 games for the Flyers.

They wasted no time in adding him to their stable of defensemen, and so far it’s been a very wise investment.

He is playing a ton of minutes (more than 23 per game) and entering Saturday’s game in Montreal had already recorded a goal and two assists in his first seven games.

It was long overdue.

• James van Riemsdyk out with back spasms

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There’s also this, via @RecordsAndRadio...

That wasn’t the only good news that was coming his way on Saturday.

Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports the Penguins plan on keeping Maatta on the NHL roster beyond nine games and will not return him to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. NHL teams are allowed to give players a nine-game tryout in the NHL before sending them back to their junior team without counting against their entry level contract.

DeBoer said that Elias, who is dealing with the flu, is doubtful. Brunner left the morning skate early with an apparent shoulder injury, and was not available to the media after practice. DeBoer would only say that Brunner is “dealing with some nagging stuff” and is a game-time decision.

• James van Riemsdyk out with back spasms