Just because Wayne Gretzky laced up his skates in an alumni game over the weekend doesnt mean the NHL is back to the 1980s.It just feels like it.Goals are coming fast and furious through the first two weeks of the season, with scoring at a pace that hasnt been seen in over a decade. Players are scoring an average of 5.98 goals a game, a far cry from the offense-happy days of Gretzky but an increase so far from every other year since 2005-06 when new rules were designed to boost scoring.An influx of young players, the preseason World Cup of Hockey and more backup goaltenders playing because of injuries have kept red lights flashing around the league.Overall, the game is going younger, faster, more skill, so I think everything kind of combines and goes into it, Arizona Coyotes winger Radim Vrbata said. I think the penalties are called more now than late in the season last year. Thats normal, so you probably have more power-play goals. And you have all the guys who played at the World Cup, theyre in their midseason form already where normally it would take them a couple games to get going.The NHL, hoping to keep its fans entertained, has tried many things to get scoring up, from shrinking goaltending equipment to adopting 3-on-3 overtime. Yet goals have hovered around 5.3 per game over the past five years.The jump early this season has as much to do with young talent like Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews as anything else.McDavid and Matthews lead a wave of 16 teenagers in the NHL right now, players who dazzle with flashy moves and who sometimes arent afraid to take a risk and maybe turn the puck over. As hockey trends more toward speed and skill, the game becomes more unpredictable and coaches gain more gray hair.You have more skill players in the league, too, so theyre not as conscious with puck management, Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. You talk to the coaches probably around the league that might be as much as anything, and (players are) finding the back of the net on those.Coyotes coach Dave Tippett joked that its a Team North America mentality, referencing the 23-and-under World Cup group that thrived playing end-to-end, fast-paced games and scored at a blistering pace. Beyond just Team North America, the World Cup got many of the leagues elite up to speed to start the year, and Philadelphia forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare believes he and the other 168 players who took part are already in December form.It definitely helps, Flyers teammate Sean Couturier said. I think guys have been in game situations at such a high pace, high level for a month and a half before the season actually started.Eight of the top nine scorers so far this season played in the World Cup, and surprise standout Richard Panik benefited from so many Chicago Blackhawks players being away by making the most of extra ice time in preseason. The Blackhawks are also doing their part to contribute to the goal fest by allowing a league-high 14 of the 138 power-play goals scored through Wednesday.Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters thinks power-play units are ahead of penalty kills and that five-on-five play is looser than usual.Loose play plus a lot of backup goaltenders in the nets is a recipe for offense. Through 97 games, 61 different goalies have started at least once, compared with 85 in 1,230 games last season.Thats in part a product of injuries to starters like the Los Angeles Kings Jonathan Quick, Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask and Arizonas Mike Smith and also the compressed schedule forced because of the World Cup. Each team will have a five-day bye week in January or February.Im sure because we have a lot of back to backs and we have the bye week -- the games are probably compressed a little bit more together than its been in the last (few) years, Capitals backup goalie Philipp Grubauer said. If youre good and play good and get the right numbers and win the games, Im sure (backups) will get a few more starts.Backups will continue to play, but many around the NHL expect production to slide back to normal as the season wears on. So enjoy the throwback scoring while it lasts.I think things will tighten up as we go, Peters said. But its been enjoyable for the fans.---AP Freelancers Matt Carlson in Chicago, Denis Gorman in New York and Paul Gereffi in Sunrise, Florida, contributed.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Nike MLB Jerseys From China . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Cheap MLB Jerseys Store http://www.cheapmlbjerseysauthenticchina.com/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Wholesale MLB Jerseys Free Shipping . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has spent 20 seasons coaching in the NFL -- including head-coaching stints with the Dallas Cowboys and?Buffalo Bills?-- but his job security might be in jeopardy if comedian and prominent Jets fan Larry David has something to say about it.On Monday, David went on The Dan Patrick Show and reaffirmed his position that he could be an offensive coordinator in the NFL.Im positive I could be an offensive coordinator, David said. All I have to do is -- I think if I just studied, if I just hung around and just learned a little bit. Give me one season shadowing an offensive coordinator and I know I could do it.While David has no experience coaching in the NFL, his argument stems around the idea that being an offensive coordinator primarily relies on creativity, which the Curb Your Enthusiasm star certainly doesnt lack.What could be so hard about it? Davidd asked.dddddddddddd You make up plays! Why is that so hard, okay? Im creative in certain respects and I think I could do that. I think I can!In 2015, David went on The Howard Stern Show and argued that his experience playing football as a kid made him qualified to be an offensive coordinator.Luckily, Gailey wont have to worry about his job security. On Tuesday, the Jets took to Twitter and politely declined Davids offer to take over as offensive coordinator.?After doubling down on Monday, the 69-year-old comedian also had some strong words for Ryan Fitzpatricks beard.That beard bothers me, he said. I dont know what this quarterback looks like. Who am I rooting for?Its probably safe to assume that Fitzpatrick wont lose any sleep thinking about Davids strong remarks. 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