Buffalo Sabres pivot Eric Staal left Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals midway through the third period after taking a hit to the head. He's considered day-to-day, head coach Ralph Krueger told WGR's Paul Hamilton.

Capitals forward Nic Dowd delivered the hit.

Dowd was given a two-minute minor on the play. Krueger said he was surprised it wasn't more.

Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, who went after Dowd following the hit, classified it as a dirty play.

"I didn't see the hit itself. I just saw Eric kind of do a helicopter, which is usually a sign of a hit to the head," McCabe told The Athletic's John Vogl postgame. "As we all saw on the replay, it was definitely to the head and pretty dirty."

Sabres forward Taylor Hall agreed.

"That's a tough hit," Hall told Vogl. "He's not even a really dangerous player at that point when he has the puck, so for their guy to go after him and make contact with his jaw like that, it's not something that you want to see."

Buffalo acquired Staal in an offseason trade with the Minnesota Wild for Marcus Johansson. The team brought in the veteran to fill a massive void as its second-line center behind Jack Eichel.

The Sabres lost 6-4 to open their season.

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St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais faces a two-game ban for his hit on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews during Wednesday's contest, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.

The play occurred just over four minutes into the contest. Blais was handed a two-minute minor for elbowing. Toews was shaken up but remained in the game.

Blais, 24, has no prior history of supplemental discipline over 84 regular-season contests. The 6-foot-2 forward later added an assist in the Blues' 4-1 victory.

The Avalanche acquired Toews from the New York Islanders in October and signed him to a four-year, $16.4-million deal shortly after.

Blais will sit for the first game of his suspension when the Blues take on the Avalanche in a rematch Friday.

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The Chicago Blackhawks placed forwards Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews on long-term injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook was placed on regular injured reserve.

Dach is expected to miss four-to-five months after he underwent surgery to repair a wrist fracture suffered at the world juniors. Toews revealed in late December that he would be out indefinitely due to an illness that has left him "feeling drained and lethargic." There is no current timeline for his return.

While Dach is likely out for the entire season, Toews' placement on LTIR means he'll miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.

Toews posted 60 points in 70 games last season in a key role for Chicago. With the captain and Dach both out, the Blackhawks' depth at center is limited.

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St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais will have a hearing Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews on Wednesday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.

Blais received a two-minute elbowing penalty on the play and Toews left the game. The defenseman eventually returned and finished the contest with 22:17 minutes of ice time.

Blais, 24, recently signed a two-year, $3-million extension with the Blues. He has no previous suspension history.

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The NHL made its triumphant return Wednesday, and there was no shortage of memorable plays from the five-game slate.

Here are the top five:

5. Kyrou and Bozak carve Avs 🔥

It's not the Blues' most prominent offensive duo, but Tyler Bozak and Jordan Kyrou showed some impressive chemistry on this gorgeous give-and-go. The highlight-reel tally proved to be the game-winner, as St. Louis knocked off the Cup favorites on the road.

4. Bill Ny the top-shelf guy 🎯

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander showed incredible patience and a lethal release on this one, burning Carey Price with a top-corner laser for his second goal of the game. Nylander also added an assist in Toronto's overtime victory over its biggest rival.

3. Hughes sets up goal from seat of his pants 🍑

Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes brought his A-game in the Canucks' season debut in Edmonton and made a wonderful play on what would end up being the game-winning goal in the third period. First, Hughes held the blue line while under immense pressure from the Oilers, then he slid a perfect pass from his rear end to set up Brock Boeser all alone in front. They don't teach that in hockey school.

2. Crosby makes it leak easy 😏

Carter Hart is still pretty new to the NHL, so just this once we'll give him a pass for trying to sneak one by Sidney Crosby. The Penguins' savvy captain thwarted the feeble clearing attempt and casually tucked it home with one hand for the cherry on top. Just another day at the office for No. 87.

1. Subban's save-of-the-year candidate 😱

Are you kidding me? Subban's stupendous stop may have come in a blowout loss, but this is undisputedly the play of the night. An absolutely incredible effort that looks even prettier in slow-mo.

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It didn't take long for Wayne Simmonds to make an impact for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the club trailing 3-1 to the Montreal Canadiens midway through its season opener Wednesday night, Simmonds challenged blue-liner Ben Chiarot to a fight that his teammates believed changed the complexion of the game.

"That was the turning point of the game, for sure," William Nylander said after the 5-4 win, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "He got the boys fired up. I think we were a little soft and slow in the beginning."

Toronto went on to score a pair of power-play goals following the tilt to tie the game 3-3 heading into the third period. Leafs rearguard Morgan Rielly, who scored the overtime winner, seconded Nylander's praise for the club's gritty winger.

"He's incredibly valuable to this team and we're very, very lucky to have him," Rielly said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "He brings a whole lot of aspects of great things to our team in the way that he's able to play."

Simmonds, 32, signed a one-year, $1.5-million deal with the Leafs in October, and the veteran knows he can provide the team with an element of toughness that it's lacked in the past.

"I felt good," he said, according to Shilton. "It was my first real game action in 10 months, 28 days, and I could probably tell you to the second. I thought the boys needed a bit of a spark there. I know my role on this team. I asked Chiarot ... and it was green light go."

Simmonds added three hits while logging 10:25 of ice time in his Maple Leafs debut.

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