Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler each provided a goal and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets suddenly transformed into an offensive juggernaut, beating Alex Ovechkin’s struggling Capitals 4-2 on Tuesday night to end Washington’s 10-game winning streak in home openers.
Two games and two losses into the lockout-shortened season — and new Washington boss Adam Oates’ NHL head coaching career — Ovechkin does not have a goal, the Capitals have been outscored 10-5 and their opponents are five-for-12 on power plays.
Andrew Ladd and Jim Slater also scored, while Tobias Enstrom had three assists for Winnipeg (1-1-1), who outshot the Capitals 39-34.
Photo: Reuters
The Jets scored only two goals in their first 137 minutes of play this season. They matched that total with a pair of power-play scores in a four-minute span during the first period on Tuesday.
DEVILS 3, FLYERS 0
In Newark, New Jersey, Martin Brodeur made 24 saves for his 120th NHL shutout, Ilya Kovalchuk scored on a short-handed penalty shot, and the Devils won their home opener in front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd with a victory over the winless Flyers.
Travis Zajac and David Clarkson scored first-period goals for the defending Eastern Conference champions, 2-0 in the lockout-shortened season.
The Flyers dropped to 0-3, matching their worst start since they also lost their first three games in the lockout-shortened 1995 season.
Philadelphia rebounded that year to win the Atlantic Division, and the Devils won their first Stanley Cup championship that season with Brodeur in goal.
Brodeur was the difference this time in recording his 10th shutout against Philadelphia. He was outstanding in the first period, stopping nine shots when the Flyers played with desperation.
LIGHTNING 4, HURRICANES 1
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Keith Aulie scored the momentum-shifting goal that propelled the Lightning past the Hurricanes.
Tom Pyatt and Cory Conacher scored early goals, Ryan Malone added a power-play tally and Vincent Lecavalier had two assists. The Lightning pulled away with two goals in the third period.
Jeff Skinner scored a power-play goal for the Hurricanes, who had their home opener spoiled by Tampa Bay for the second straight season.
Mathieu Garon stopped 35 shots — including all 15 he faced in the third period of his first start this season for the Lightning, who opened the lockout-compressed season with two wins in three games.
Cam Ward made 22 saves, but allowed four goals for the second straight game. The Hurricanes have started a much-anticipated season with two losses and have been outscored by a combined 9-2. Carolina have dropped four straight home openers.
CANADIENS 4, PANTHERS 1
In Montreal, Andrei Markov scored two goals, his first in two seasons, and Alex Galchenyuk had the first of his NHL career to help the Canadiens beat the Panthers 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Tomas Plekanec also scored for Montreal (1-1-0), while Rafael Diaz and Max Pacioretty each had two assists.
Tomas Kopecky scored for Florida (1-2-0), who were coming off a 4-0 loss in Ottawa on Monday night. The Panthers have played three games in four nights.
Markov had played only 17 games since he last scored on Nov. 9, 2010, due to two successive surgeries on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Both his goals came on power plays.
Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen went into the game with a 6-0 career record against Montreal, but it was Carey Price who got the win as the Canadiens had a 33-28 shot advantage.
STARS 2, RED WINGS 1
In Detroit, Michigan, Michael Ryder scored in the first and third periods, and Kari Lehtonen came within 3.4 seconds of a shutout in the Stars’ win over the Red Wings.
Lehtonen made 39 saves, but allowed Damien Brunner’s first career goal in the final seconds. Ryder had already added an insurance goal with 14:26 to play.
In other NHL action, it was:
‧ Blackhawks 3, Blues 2
‧ Predators 3, Wild 1
‧ Avalanche 3, Kings 1
‧ Sharks 6, Oilers 3
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