Justin Abdelkader had a hat-trick and Dylan Larkin scored in his NHL debut, helping the Detroit Red Wings beat the Mike Babcock-led Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Friday night.
Jimmy Howard stopped 21 shots for his 21st career shutout for the Red Wings, who won their season-opening game and dropped Toronto to 0-2 with their US$50 million coach.
The Maple Leafs lured Babcock away from Detroit with an eight-year contract that more than doubled what any other coach is making is making per season in the league.
Photo: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY
Abdelkader scored on Detroit’s first shot, making the most of a power play 1 minute, 15 seconds into the game. He had another goal midway through the first period off a centering pass from Larkin.
Larkin scored 20 seconds into the second to chase Toronto goaltender Jonathan Bernier and Abdelkader completed the hat-trick 3 minutes, 54 seconds into the period.
BLACKHAWKS 3, ISLANDERS 2, OT
In New York, Patrick Kane scored on a power play 1 minute, 49 seconds into overtime to lift Chicago, spoiling the Islanders’ Brooklyn debut.
With the Blackhawks awarded an extra skater after a slashing penalty on the Islanders’ Nick Leddy during the three-on-three overtime, Kane sent the puck toward the middle of the net from the right side.
Kane also scored in the second period, Artem Anisimov added a goal and Corey Crawford stopped 34 shots. John Tavares and Marek Zidlicky scored for the Islanders.
RANGERS 4, BLUE JACKETS 2
In Columbus, Ohio, Mats Zuccarello had two goals as the New York Rangers scored three times in a 1 minute, 17 second span in the third period to seize the win.
Brandon Saad scored during a power play in the third to give the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead.
However, after a Columbus turnover, Oscar Lindberg netted a low shot for his second goal in two games to make it 2-2. Just 17 seconds later, Kevin Hayes made it 3-2 with a shot from the right corner along the end line that found its way past Sergei Bobrovsky. Zuccarello capped the scoring a minute later.
Cam Atkinson also scored for the Blue Jackets.
JETS 3, DEVILS 1
In Newark, Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler each had a goal and an assist in a big second period as Winnipeg beat New Jersey to spoil John Hynes’ NHL coaching debut.
COYOTES 4, KINGS 1
In Los Angeles, Max Domi had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut to help Arizona to victory.
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