On the Beat: Five Keys for Ducks success, Martin Brodeur to play in Game #1000, Adam Oates joins Tampa as Assistant Coach, Heatley bombs in Sharks opener.

Word from the Beat Writers:

• Curtis Zupke writes in today’s Orange County Register about the five keys for the Ducks to have success this season.
• The Atlanta Thrashers claimed Chris Schubert off waivers today and Chris Vivalamore of the AJC wonders who that leaves out.
• If you were wondering how the Sabres giant defenceman, Tyler Myers will fare in the NHL, wonder no longer as the Buffalo News is reporting that Coach Ruff said he’s in for tonight’s contest.
• Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald hits us with some random thoughts following the Flames impressive 5-3 win over the Canucks.  As an aside how awesome were those Flames jerseys!!

  (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)

• It was quite a night in Denver yesterday and Adrian Dater of the Denver Post has the entire wrap up of the festivities from Joe Sakic night.
•  Newly acquired defenceman Anton Stralman is going to play in the Jackets season opener writes Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch.
• Helene St. James writes that it looks like the Wings line-up is set and Abdelkader, Maltby and Draper are all in for tonight’s game against central division rival Blues.
• As the games are set to begin in Edmonton, David Staples goes over the hopes and fears every Oilers fans has for the new season.
• With the loss of Markov last night, Coach Jacques Martin is starting to juggle the lines writes Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette.
• It will be a milestone night in New Jersey as Marty Brodeur is set to play in game #1000 for the Devils writes Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger.
  
• Coach John Tororella is having trouble figuring out who should be his alternate with the Rangers this season.
• Ottawa fans weren’t upset with Dany Heatley‘s final number’s from last night; 0 goals, 0 assists and a -3 writes the Ottawa Citizen’s James Gordon.
• It was likely his own power play resume that got Adam Oates the job as he was one of the premiere passers in the game and will help the Lightning in that capacity in his new role as Assistant Coach.
• While fans in Ottawa may be rejoicing, Coach Todd McLellan wasn’t impressed with his team’s play writes David Pollack of the San Jose Mercury News.
• Tarik El-Bashir details the great start that the Washington Capitals got off to last night behind Alexander the Great’s 2 goal performance.