* Nash now has 7-7—14 in 12 career season-opening games, including 2-3—5 in his three such contests with the Rangers.

* Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves to pick up his first career victory against the Blues (6 GP: 1-4-0). He now has defeated 29 of the NHL’s 30 clubs, with the lone exception being the Rangers.

* The Rangers now have recorded at least one point 123 of their last 124 games when leading after two periods dating to Feb. 4, 2010 vs. WSH (115-1-8).

DEVILS ALSO COME OUT ON TOP IN SEESAW AFFAIR
Tied 4-4 early in the third period, Dainius Zubrus (1-0—1) scored the go-ahead goal and Mike Cammalleri (2-0—2) added an empty-netter to help the Devils escape the Flyers in their season opener.

* After taking a 3-0 lead early in the second period, the Devils yielded three consecutive goals – including two by Wayne Simmonds (2-1—3) in the final minute – to enter the final frame knotted at 3-3.

* Michael Ryder posted 1-2—3 for his first three-point game since April 4, 2013 vs. WPG (2-1—3).

* Cory Schneider made 35 saves to earn the victory in his first career start against the Flyers.

JAGR KEEPS CLIMBING
Devils forward Jaromir Jagr continued to climb the NHL’s record books, posting two assists to pass Steve Yzerman and move into sole possession of sixth place on the League’s all-time points list:

Most Points, NHL History
5. Marcel Dionne: 731-1,040—1,771
6. Jaromir Jagr: 705-1,052—1,757
7. Steve Yzerman: 692-1,063—1,755

* With a pair of helpers, Jagr also extended his NHL record for most points in season-opening games:

Most Points in Season-Opening Games, NHL History
1. Jaromir Jagr: 11-26—37
2. Ray Bourque: 9-21—30
t-3. Joe Sakic: 11-16—27
t-3. Wayne Gretzky: 9-18—27

DUPUIS HELPS JOHNSTON PICK UP FIRST NHL VICTORY
Playing in his first game since Dec. 23, Pascal Dupuis posted 1-3—4 to power the Penguins past the Ducks in Mike Johnston’s NHL head-coaching debut.

* Dupuis matched a career high with four points, first achieved March 25, 2004 at CHI (0-4—4 as a member of the Wild).

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dupuis became the sixth player in franchise history to collect at least four points in a season opener and the first to do so since both Ron Francis (2-2—4) and Mario Lemieux (0-4—4) accomplished that feat to open the 1995-96 campaign.

* Sidney Crosby recorded 2-1—3 and now has 7-6—13 in nine career home openers, including goals in three consecutive such contests. He opened the 2013-14 season with points in eight straight games, totaling 7-10—17 in that span.

* Olli Maatta set a career high with three assists. Elias says he is the first Penguins player to collect three helpers in a season opener since Jaromir Jagr did so to begin the 1997-98 campaign. The only other defenseman in franchise history to accomplish that feat: Jack Lynch, who did so in 1973-74.

* Johnston became the ninth head coach in franchise history to win in his NHL debut and the first to do so since Rick Kehoe in 2001. He previously served as the head coach and general manager of the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) for the past six seasons.

* The Penguins picked up their fourth straight season-opening victory and now have won six of their last seven such games. Their six goals were the most in a season opener since Oct. 7, 1995, when they defeated the Maple Leafs 8-3.

* Fun Fact: Both Crosby and Patric Hornqvist (in his team debut) scored for the Penguins. Crosby was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft; Hornqvist was the last (230th overall by the Predators).

WILD BLANK AVALANCHE IN FIRST HALF OF HOME-AND-HOME
Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves for his third career shutout and Zach Parise posted 1-2—3 to lead the Wild past the Avalanche in the first half of a home-and-home series.

* The Wild set a franchise record with 48 shots on goal, including 21 in the second period (two shy of the club record for most shots in a single period).

* The Wild improved to 8-1-1 all-time when opening the season at home and now are 12-0-2 in home openers played at Xcel Energy Center. The 5-0 final marked their largest margin of victory ever in a season opener.

* Kuemper, 24, became the youngest goaltender in franchise history to start a home opener. He now has three shutouts in 33 career regular-season appearances (also, Jan. 12, 2014 at NSH; Feb. 27, 2014 at EDM).

* Parise recorded his 29th career three-point game and also posted a career-high +4 rating. He now has 6-14—20 in 17 career regular-season games against the Avalanche.

GOING THE DISTANCE
Three of Thursday’s games were decided in extra time:

* Victor Hedman (1-1—2) scored his first career overtime goal to lead the Lightning past the Panthers.

* Tomas Plekanec potted the tying goal midway through the third period and Brendan Gallagher netted the winner in the fifth round of the shootout to power the Canadiens to their second victory in as many nights.

* Patrick Kane assisted on Patrick Sharp’s tying goal midway through the final frame and added the lone marker in the tiebreaker to lift the Blackhawks past the Stars. He now shares the lead among active NHL players with 15 career game-deciding goals in shootouts.

HATS OFF
Two players recorded hat tricks in their season openers:

* Ducks forward Corey Perry posted his sixth career hat trick and first since Feb. 12, 2012 at CBJ. He ranked second in the NHL with 43 goals in 2013-14.

* Flames forward Mason Raymond recorded his third career hat trick. His other three-goal games came against Calgary (as a member of the Canucks): Dec. 27, 2009 at CGY and Dec. 1, 2010 at CGY.

Active Players with Hat Tricks in a Season Opener
Paul Stastny, COL (10/3/07 vs. DAL)
Derek Stepan, NYR (10/9/10 at BUF)
Mikhail Grabovski, WSH (10/1/13 at CHI)
Radim Vrbata, PHX (10/3/13 vs. NYR)
Corey Perry, ANA (10/9/14 at PIT)
Mason Raymond, CGY (10/9/14 at EDM)

TOP THREE 2014 DRAFT PICKS ALL DEBUT
For just the sixth time in the last 26 years, all three of the top picks from previous NHL Draft played in the season opener for their respective clubs (courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau):

2014-15: Aaron Ekblad (FLA), Sam Reinhart (BUF), Leon Draisaitl (EDM)
2009-10: John Tavares (NYI), Victor Hedman (TBL), Matt Duchene (COL)
2008-09: Steven Stamkos (TBL), Drew Doughty (LAK), Zach Bogosian (ATL)
2003-04: Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Eric Staal (CAR), Nathan Horton (FLA)
1993-94: Alexandre Daigle (OTT), Chris Pronger (HFD), Chris Gratton (TBL)
1987-88: Pierre Turgeon (BUF), Brendan Shanahan (NJD), Glen Wesley (BOS)

* Ekblad recorded his first career point with an assist on Jonathan Huberdeau’s tying goal for the Panthers midway through the third period.

* Reinhart (18 years, 338 days) became the sixth-youngest player ever to appear for the Sabres and the third 18-year-old to skate in their season opener in the past three years, following Mikhail Grigorenko (2012-13) and Rasmus Ristolainen (2013-14).

* Draisaitl went 7-for-13 (53.8%) in the face-off circle and played 14:47 in his debut with the Oilers.

LOOSE PUCKS
Down 1-0 after 40 minutes, the Predators scored a trio of third-period goals to lift Peter Laviolette to a victory in his debut behind the bench . . . Justin Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist each scored in the second period to lead the Red Wings to their eighth victory in their last nine regular-season meetings with the Bruins . . . Blake Wheeler (2-1—3) scored twice in 15 seconds to power the Jets past the Coyotes. Bryan Little added a pair of goals to earn the team’s player-of-the-game helmet . . . Tied 1-1 after two periods, Cam Atkinson and Artem Anisimov found the back of the net in the third to lead the Blue Jackets past the Sabres . . . Flames forward Joe Colborne recorded a career-high three assists . . . Ryan Kesler posted 1-2—3 in his Ducks debut . . . Jason Spezza collected an assist in his Stars debut . . . Andre Burakovsky scored in his NHL debut, becoming the 13th player in Capitals history to find the back the net in his first game and just the fourth to do so in the past 32 years (Steve Poapst: April 10, 1996; Alex Ovechkin: Oct. 5, 2005; Jakub Klepis: Nov. 4, 2005) . . . Paul Stastny became the third member of his family to score in his Blues debut, joining his father, Peter (March 12, 1994), and brother, Yan (Feb. 16, 2006) . . . Senators forward David Legwand played 16:56 and recorded four penalty minutes in his team debut and return to Nashville. The Predators’ all-time leader in goals (210), assists (356), points (566) and games played (956) also mistakenly entered the wrong penalty box . . . The Maple Leafs claimed forward Richard Panik off waivers from the Lightning . . . ICYMI: Capitals legends Rod Langway, Craig Laughlin, Sylvain Cote and Peter Bondra dropped the ceremonial first puck on the 40th anniversary of the franchise’s first game.

The above information was provided by the NHL PR department.