National Hockey League Game Capsules
Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) – Tyler Bozak scored the go-ahead goal while short-handed late in the second period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens as the 2013-14 NHL season got underway at Bell Centre. Mason Raymond tallied the eventual game-winner in the third period, while James van Riemsdyk and Dion Phaneuf also notched goals for the Maple Leafs. Phil Kessel, signed to a reported eight-year, $64- million extension earlier in the day, recorded an assist on van Riemsdyk’s power-play marker. James Reimer made 34 saves to help Toronto fight back from a 2-1 deficit after the opening 20 minutes. Lars Eller amassed two goals and an assist in a losing cause, with Brendan Gallagher also scoring for Montreal and Alex Galchenyuk registering two assists. Carey Price turned back 34-of-38 shots in defeat.
Final Score: Chicago 6, Washington 4
Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – The Chicago Blackhawks raised their fifth Stanley Cup championship banner before the start of their season opener, then picked up right where they left off. Johnny Oduya scored the go-ahead goal with 6:07 to play as the Blackhawks opened the 2013-14 season with a 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals at United Center. Chicago won the fifth Stanley Cup trophy in franchise history, and second in four years, with a six-game victory over the Boston Bruins last spring. On Tuesday, Brandon Saad had a goal and two assists while Marian Hossa, Brent Seabrook, Brandon Bollig and Patrick Kane all had goals for the Blackhawks, who stayed in the Western Conference and the Central Division after the NHL realigned in the offseason. Corey Crawford stopped 28 shots to help Chicago win a second straight game against the Capitals. Washington, meanwhile, is now a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Mikhail Grabovski notched a hat trick and an assist for the Capitals, who lost to the Rangers in seven games in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist Braden Holtby was tagged for five goals on 34 shots in the loss.
Final Score: Winnipeg 5, Edmonton 4
Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – Michael Frolik scored the game-winner with 5:02 remaining in the third period to lift his new team, the Winnipeg Jets, over the Edmonton Oilers, 5-4, in the season opener at Rexall Place. Jacob Trouba tied the game with a blistering slap shot midway through the third period in his first NHL game, and Winnipeg held on after Frolik’s second tally. Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little also added goals for the Jets, who moved from the Eastern Conference over to the West’s Central Division following the NHL’s realignment. Ondrej Pavelec shook off a slow start, allowing four goals on 24 shots through the first two periods, but turned away all 14 shots he faced in the third to come away victorious. Devan Dubnyk had a dubious opening, making just 23 saves and surrendering all five goals in the setback. Boyd Gordon and Jesse Joensuu both scored in their first game with the Oilers after signing as free agents in the offseason. Mike Brown and Ales Hemsky were Edmonton’s other goal scorers. Dallas Eakins, Edmonton’s fifth different head coach in the last six seasons, lost in his debut.
Categorized in: NHL