NHL ROUNDUP

NHL ROUNDUP

Friday’s games

Sabres 2, Canadiens 1, SO

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ales Kotalik and Drew Stafford scored shootout goals to lift Buffalo over Montreal, spoiling the Canadiens’ start to their 100th season. Thomas Vanek scored the lone goal in regulation in the Sabres’ season-opener and goalie Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots through overtime and didn’t allow a goal on the two shots he faced in the shootout. Miller got his pad out to foil Robert Lang’s attempt to stuff a shot inside the right post.

Thrashers 7, Capitals 4

ATLANTA — Bryan Little had two goals, including the go-ahead score in the third period, to lead Atlanta past Washington. Capitals goalie Jose Theodore didn’t make it through the second period of his debut with the team, giving up four goals before he was pulled.

Devils 2, Islanders 1

NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur stopped a penalty shot and finished with 25 saves and New Jersey spoiled Scott Gordon’s NHL coaching debut with the Islanders. Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored for the Devils to help Brodeur record his 539th career victory, 12 shy of the NHL mark held by Patrick Roy.

Rangers 4, Blackhawks 2

NEW YORK — Brandon Dubinsky scored once and added two assists, and newcomers Wade Redden, Aaron Voros and Nikolai Zherdev also scored for the Rangers.

Hurricanes 6, Panthers 4

RALEIGH, N.C. — Joni Pitkanen and Dan LaCouture scored in their Carolina debut to lead the Hurricanes past Florida. Rod Brind’Amour, Tuomu Ruutu and Ray Whitney scored, Matt Cullen added an empty-net goal, Tim Gleason had three assists and Frantisek Kaberle added two to help Carolina rally from an early two-goal deficit.

Blues 5, Predators 2

ST. LOUIS — Keith Tkachuk scored two power-play goals, and Brad Boyes and David Backes also scored with the man advantage to lead St. Louis.

Blue Jackets 5, Stars 4, OT

DALLAS — Rick Nash scored from the slot with 20 seconds left in overtime to lift Columbus. The Blue Jackets, who won for only the second time in 19 games against the Stars, had gone ahead by scoring three goals in less than a 5-minute span of the third period.

Associated Press