Really, I think the game boiled down to two elements, three counting stupid penalties, that bit us.
One: A new system, where in our top players play top minutes, even if they weren't earned per se with play last night. Kesler wasn't using his line mates, the Sedins were cycling far too long waiting for the perfect shot, our PP (short of the goal) didn't seem to be timed as well as it should be (Hamhuis coughing up a 2 on 0, lack of shots, lack of chances that weren't due to a fluke). This will take time. Torts and the coaching staff hardly started with the systems and offensive element to the game by the end of preseason, no team and no player on earth will simply grasp that.
Two: Our players failed to hit the net with alarming frequency. I expect a few big blueline shots to go errant, but I noticed Burrows, Daniel, Kesler, Hank, Hansen, Booth and Richardson missing shots at point blank too. Empty net with Niemi out of place, and the rebound or the one timer misses the net.
Two point Five: This isn't counting the posts, those are 1/16th of an inch from going in. One or two bounces and we'd have been in it.
In both cases, it's opening night, in a rivals building, against a team that has had our number in recent games...relax. We can recover in the following 81 games.
Three: Stupid penalties killed what ever momentum we built up. Weise, Kesler, Garrison, Daniel and that bench minors being key penalties that stood out to me as helping to ruin our comeback. The PK I have no real issue with, but its tough to score a man down.
This was the most unforgivable factor to me. Don't hook, don't hit the head, don't prematurely jump onto the ice. Everyone has bad nights though.
TL;DR: First game and we just had a huge change over this offseason, against a cup favourite this year. It happens, we can lose a game and still be contenders.