SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NEW JERSEY 4, Colorado 1
TORONTO 8, NY Rangers 5
Detroit 2, OTTAWA 1 (SO)
FLORIDA 5, Tampa Bay 4
NY ISLANDERS 6, Buffalo 3
PITTSBURGH 4, Nashville 0
WASHINGTON 6, Montreal 1
CAROLINA 5, Minnesota 4 (SO)
ST. LOUIS 4, Dallas 2
CHICAGO 5, Columbus 1
Vegas 2, ARIZONA 1 (OT)
VANCOUVER 3, Edmonton 2
Philadelphia 3, ANAHEIM 2 (OT)
CALGARY 6, Winnipeg 3
Los Angeles 4, SAN JOSE 1
OVECHKIN MATCHES 100-YEAR-OLD BENCHMARK WITH ANOTHER HAT TRICK
Alex Ovechkinmatched a career high with four goals – including three in the first period – to post his second straight hat trick (19th career) and lead the Capitals to victory. With hat tricks in each of the Capitals’ first two games of the 2017-18 season, Ovechkin became the fourth player in League history – and first since the NHL’s inaugural campaign – to score a hat trick in each of his team’s first two games of a season.
* Elias adds that Ovechkin – who netted three goals in the third period of Washington’s season opener – became the third player in NHL history to score three goals in a period in consecutive team games. The others: Buffalo’s Richard Martin from Oct. 19-22, 1975, and Toronto’s Darryl Sittler from March 2-5, 1980.
* Ovechkin’s four-goal outburst included his 562nd, 563rd, 564th and 565th career markers to pass Mike Modano (561), Joe Nieuwendyk (564) and Mats Sundin (564) for sole possession of 22nd on the NHL’s all-time list. The performance also included his 213th career power-play goal to pass Keith Tkachuk (212) for sole possession of 13th place in NHL history.
BLACKHAWKS, MAPLE LEAFS CONTINUE SCORING OUTBURSTS TO BEGIN SEASON
* Five different Blackhawks skaters scored en route to a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jackets. Chicago – who earned a 10-1 win in its season opener – has scored the most goals through its first two games of a season in franchise history, eclipsing the previous mark of 13.
* The Maple Leafs saw their 5-1 lead erased but responded with three unanswered goals to earn an 8-5 win over the Rangers. Toronto – who earned a 7-2 victory in its season opener – has produced the second-most goals through its first two games of a season in franchise history.
VEGAS RALLIES TO IMPROVE TO 2-0-0
Nate Schmidt (1-1—2) tied the game with 1:12 remaining in regulation and James Neal scored at 3:46 of overtime to power the Golden Knights to victory. Neal has potted the game-winner in each of Vegas’ first two contests after scoring both goals in its 2-1 season-opening win on Friday.
* The Golden Knights became the third expansion franchise (since 1967-68) to improve to 2-0-0 in their inaugural season, joining the Los Angeles Kings and California Seals (both in 1967-68).
BUTCHER ACHIEVES RARE FEAT IN NHL DEBUT
Will Butcher collected three assists in his NHL debut to lead the Devils to a 4-1 season-opening win. The 2017 Hobey Baker Award-winner became the first player in franchise history to record three points in his League debut and just the fifth defenseman on any team to do so in the NHL expansion’s era (since 1967-68).
WALKER SCORES IN HISTORIC LEAGUE DEBUT
Capitals forward Nathan Walker made his League debut and became the first Australian-national to appear in a regular-season NHL game. He made further history when he scored the first goal of his NHL career at 18:05 of the second period.
PENGUINS BLANK PREDATORS IN STANLEY CUP FINAL REMATCH
Matt Murray turned aside all 26 shots he faced to backstop the Penguins to a 4-0 win over the Predators in their first meeting since Pittsburgh’s six-game triumph to capture back-to-back championships. Murray has blanked the Predators in each of the last three meetings between the clubs after earning shutouts in Games 5 and 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.
ISLANDERS, SABRES COMBINE FOR FOUR SHORTHANDED GOALS
The Islanders (2) and Sabres (2) combined for four shorthanded goals, matching the NHL record for most in a game last achieved by the Senators (3) and Panthers (1) on Nov. 18, 2000 (box score).
SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
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QUICK CLICKS
1. Prominent Australians congratulate Nathan Walker ahead of NHL debut
2. Walker's family witnesses history, Capitals fans go wild for Australian
3. Bratt scores in NHL debut, makes proud parents cry
4. Jagr crashes interview with Traveling Jagrs, presents Flames jersey
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