WASHINGTON (AP) — Patric Hornqvist scored a power-play goal and assisted on another in his season debut to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Wednesday night in their first meeting since the playoffs. Hornqvist assisted on
WASHINGTON (AP) — Patric Hornqvist scored a power-play goal and assisted on another in his season debut to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Wednesday night in their first meeting since the playoffs.
Hornqvist assisted on a goal by Kris Letang, the defenseman’s first since Feb. 4 after missing the end of last season and playoffs because of neck surgery. Hornqvist, who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal last spring despite a broken finger on his right hand, was playing for the first time since offseason surgery to repair it.
Conor Sheary scored the Penguins’ third goal as they went 3 for 6 on the power play. The Capitals’ six minor penalties were a season high and contributed to their first regulation loss.
Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading eighth goal of the season in the Capitals’ fourth game. Christian Djoos assisted on Ovechkin’s goal and scored in his NHL debut to become the third defenseman in franchise history to score in his debut after Steve Poapst and Hall of Famer Scott Stevens.
Matt Murray stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced to pick up the victory. Braden Holtby made 33 saves for Washington.
DEVILS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 3
TORONTO (AP) — Brian Gibbons had a rare 3-on-5 goal, Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha each scored twice and unbeaten New Jersey beat Toronto to end the Maple Leafs’ perfect start.
Blake Coleman also scored, and Cory Schneider made 47 saves to help New Jersey open 3-0-0 for the first time since 2014-15.
Tied 2-2 after 20 minutes, New Jersey scored twice in the second period despite being outshot 17-12.
A key moment came late in the period with the Devils taking two minors on one play. Rather than Toronto taking advantage, New Jersey killed off the penalties and scored short-handed to make it 4-2.
Jake Gardiner was unable to keep the puck in at the New Jersey blue line and two Devils broke in. William Nylander’s backcheck swept the puck off Adam Henrique’s stick, and the puck went off goalie Frederik Andersen to Gibbons in front.
Auston Matthews, with his third of the season, cut it to 5-3 with 6:26 remaining and the Maple Leafs on a two-man advantage. James van Riemsdyk and Dominic Moore also scored for Toronto. The Maple Leafs dropped to 3-1-0.
AVALANCHE 6, BRUINS 3
DENVER (AP) — Sven Andrighetto scored twice, the second an empty-netter with 1:34 remaining, and Alexander Kerfoot had his first NHL goal in helping Colorado beat Boston in the Avalanche’s home opener.
The Avalanche beat the Bruins 4-0 in Boston on Monday night.
Colorado broke things open in the second period, with Nail Yakupov, Andrighetto and Matt Duchene all beating goaltender Tuukka Rask, who was replaced by Anton Khudobin for the third period.
Trailing 4-1 midway through the third, the Bruins made things interesting with goals from Tim Schaller and Torey Krug in a 1:27 span. Andrighetto and Tyson Jost responded with empty-net goals.
Semyon Varlamov stopped 20 shots for the Avalanche.
Brad Marchand also scored for Boston.
FLAMES 4, KINGS 3, OT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean Monahan scored 1:02 into overtime and Calgary rallied past Los Angeles in Jaromir Jagr’s season debut.
Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals and tied it with 9:01 left in the third period for the Flames, who have three wins in their first four games. Mike Smith’s scoreless streak ended just shy of 140 minutes, but the veteran goalie made 42 saves.
Dustin Brown scored the tying and go-ahead goals on artful deflections early in the third period for the Kings, who lost for the first time under new coach John Stevens. Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar scored, and Jonathan Quick made 33 saves.
Michael Frolik also scored for Calgary, and Monahan ended it with his second goal of the season.
The 45-year-old Jagr played 15 shifts and didn’t record a shot on goal, but still nearly scored on his opening shift in a solid debut with the Flames. The second-leading scorer in league history began his 24th NHL season by suiting up for his ninth NHL franchise.
DUCKS 3, ISLANDERS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Gibson made 38 saves and Anaheim ended a four-game losing streak to New York.
Andrew Cogliano, Rickard Rakell and Patrick Eaves scored for the Ducks, who were outshot 41-30.
Brock Nelson scored twice for the Islanders.
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