NHL ROUNDUP Saturday’s other games

Capitals 2, Hurricanes 0

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin flicked in the game’s first goal for his 200th NHL point, and the Washington Capitals won their home opener. The Capitals improved to 2-0-0 for the first time since 2002 — the last time they reached the postseason. Washington controlled the action for long stretches against Carolina (1-1-1). That included a 14-2 edge in shots in the first period and a 33-23 advantage overall.

Capitals goalie Olie Kolzig was brilliant in earning the shutout in his first game of the season. Center Viktor Kozlov set up Ovechkin’s goal 14:24 into the game, drawing three Hurricanes toward him before sliding a no-look pass over to the 2005-06 NHL rookie of the year. Ovechkin one-timed a shot past goalie John Grahame, lifting the Russian’s totals to 99 goals and 101 assists in 165 career games.

Senators 2, Rangers 0

OTTAWA — Martin Gerber stopped 35 shots for his eighth career shutout and Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist for the Senators. Gerber, who got his first shutout since Feb. 14, has led Ottawa to three straight wins to begin the season while starting goalie Ray Emery recovers from offseason wrist surgery. Alfredsson scored for the third straight game 5:40 in when he beat Henrik Lundqvist to put Ottawa up 2-0. Alfredsson had an assist 53 seconds earlier when Andrej Meszaros opened the scoring with a short-handed goal.

Rangers left wing Sean Avery left with a shoulder injury resulting from a hit by Senators right wing Chris Neil 7:23 in. Avery went directly to the dressing room and did not return.

Devils 4, Panthers 1

SUNRISE, Fla. — John Madden scored twice for New Jersey, giving Brent Sutter his first NHL coaching victory. Andy Greene and Mike Mottau also scored for the Devils, who opened the season with a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay the previous night. Kevin Weekes started in goal for the Devils and stopped 32 shots. Cory Murphy scored a power-play goal for Florida, which had won its last three home openers. Tomas Vokoun, acquired from Nashville in the offseason, made 21 saves.

Islanders 3, Sabres 2

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Mike Comrie scored two goals for the second straight night and New York completed a sweep of the season-opening, home-and-home series against Buffalo. Paying quick dividends since signing with the Islanders this summer, Comrie scored 1:39 into the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and give New York its first 2-0 start since 2001. His backhander past Ryan Miller was set up by captain Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko, also free-agent additions.

Lightning 5, Thrashers 2

TAMPA, Fla. — Vinny Prospal and Brad Richards had two goals each to lead Tampa Bay past Atlanta. Prospal scored his second of goal of the game, and third this season, when he redirected Martin St. Louis’ shot to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead during a power play with 5:22 left in the second period. Richards scored a short-handed goal later in the second and added a power-play goal in the third. Vincent Lecavalier also scored for Tampa Bay, which has opened the season 2-0 for just the third team in team history. Johan Holmqvist made 13 saves. The defending Southeast Division champion Thrashers got goals from Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov, while Johan Hedberg stopped 29 shots.

Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 3, OT

TORONTO — Tomas Kaberle scored 3:26 into overtime and Toronto rallied to beat Montreal. Alexei Ponikarovsky had two goals and Ian White also scored for the Maple Leafs. Veteran center Mats Sundin added three assists. Mathieu Dandenault, Andrei Markov and Andrei Kostitsyn scored for the Canadiens.

Predators 5, Stars 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — David Legwand had the second three-goal game of his career to help the Nashville open the season 2-0. Legwand scored at the 6:37 mark of the first period to open the scoring. He added goals in the second and third periods. J.P Dumont gave Nashville a 2-0 lead at 5:22 of the second period on the power play.

Associated Press