AROUND THE NHL | Friday’s games

Blue Jackets 5, Islanders 0

COLUMBUS

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored in his NHL debut and Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves in the Blue Jackets’ victory over the Islanders. Rookie Sonny Milano scored 1:07 into the game, and the 19-year-old Dubois made it 5-0 midway through the second period. Arena. Cam Atkinson, Ryan Murray and Zach Werenski also scored, newcomer Artemi Panarin had three assists, and Alexander Wennberg added two assists. Columbus scored on its first shot of the season when Oliver Bjorkstrand shoveled the puck out from the back wall to Milano for a 10-footer that he snapped past Greiss. Midway through the first period, Panarin circled in and teed up a pass that grazed Greiss’ stick and was redirected into the net off Atkinson’s skate. The whole sequence midway came about after Atkinson picked off a pass in the neutral zone and fed Panarin, who flashed some of the speed and offensive skill that led Columbus to acquire him from Chicago. Murray scored from the left circle 6:57 into the second period after getting a pass from Panarin, who had carried the puck around the back of the net. Later on a power play, Werenski grabbed a sharp rebound and slammed it past Greiss from about 60 feet. Dubois — the third overall pick in 2016 — got his first NHL goal, a wrister from the slot, 1:25 later.

Golden Knights 2, Stars 1

DALLAS

James Neal scored twice in the third period, rallying the Golden Knights to a victory over the Stars in the debut of the first major pro sports franchise in Las Vegas. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 45 of 46 shots to help the Golden Knights become the first expansion to open with a victory since the Ottawa Senators in 1992. They also spoiled coach Ken Hitchcock’s return to Dallas 18 years after he directed the franchise’s only Stanley Cup title. Both of Neal’s goals came against Kari Lehtonen after Ben Bishop left with an apparent facial injury after taking a puck to the mask.

Lightning 5, Panthers 3

TAMPA, Fla.

Steven Stamkos set up the go-ahead goal in his return from a right knee injury and Tampa Bay beat Florida. Stamkos missed the final 65 games last season with a torn meniscus in the knee, an injury that required surgery. He sent a pass from the left circle through the slot to Vladislav Namestnikov, who put Tampa Bay up 3-2 from near the post 59 seconds into the final period during a power play. Roberto Luongo turned aside Stamkos’ shot from the slot late in the second. Ondrej Palat had two goals, and Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves.

Associated Press