Pens top Panthers in Crosby’s return
Sidney Crosby scored in his season debut as the Penguins rallied to beat the Florida Panthers, 3-2, last night in Pittsburgh.
Crosby, who scored on a power play, missed the team’s first six games with a concussion. Carl Hagelin and Eric Fehr also scored for the Penguins, who extended a seven-game unbeaten streak against the Panthers.
Marc-Andre Fleury, who has started the first seven games of the season for Pittsburgh, stopped 20 shots. Matt Murray, who backstopped the Penguins to a Stanley Cup in June, served as the backup to Fleury after missing the first six games with a broken hand.
Reilly Smith scored a power-play goal and Mark Pysyk also scored for the Panthers, who have lost 11 of 12 against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
James Reimer made 19 saves in his second start of the season for Florida.
Crosby, the two-time MVP and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, hadn’t played since sustaining a concussion in practice earlier this month.
Crosby participated in a full-contact practice Monday for the first time since suffering his third concussion in six years. He called his participation in practice a major milestone in his recovery.
Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 — Steven Stamkos matched a career high with four points — two goals and two assists — and Tampa Bay beat host Toronto.
Frederik Andersen gave up seven goals on only 24 shots, the third time in five starts he has allowed at least five goals and fourth time he’s allowed four or more. The 27-year-old has an .851 save percentage so far this season.
Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov and Jonathan Drouin added goals for Tampa Bay, while Ben Bishop made 40 saves.
William Nylander, James van Riemsdyk and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who outshot the Lightning 43-24.
Red Wings 4, Hurricanes 2 — Dylan Larkin scored two goals to lead host Detroit to its fifth consecutive win, against Carolina.
Andreas Athanasiou had a goal and an assist and Thomas Vanek scored for Detroit. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves for the Red Wings, whose last five-game winning streak was Jan. 13-27, 2015.
Jordan Staal and Victor Rask scored for Carolina while Cam Ward stopped 21 shots.
Devils 5, Coyotes 3 — In Newark, N.J., Travis Zajac scored twice in the final 2:01 to lead New Jersey over Arizona.
Taylor Hall scored twice and Adam Henrique also had a goal for New Jersey, which is 3-0-0 at home and 0-2-1 on the road.
Hall, acquired by the Devils in a trade with Edmonton in June, has scored all five of his goals at home.
Cory Schneider made 28 saves to help New Jersey win its third straight against Arizona dating to last season, and its fifth in seven games against the Coyotes overall.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored twice in the third period for Arizona to tie it before Zajac’s two goals. Jordan Martinook scored for the Coyotes, and Justin Peters stopped 30 shots.
Flyers 4, Sabres 3— Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek scored shootout goals to cap a Philadelphia rally and help beat visiting Buffalo.
Trailing 3-1, Brayden Schenn and Mark Streit scored the tying power-play goals in the final 3:05 of regulation.
Stars 3, Jets 2 — Antti Niemi made 28 saves and host Dallas beat Winnipeg.
The win salvaged the last game of Dallas’ 1-1-1 home stand. Winnipeg lost its second straight and fourth in five games.
Brett Ritchie, Patrick Eaves and Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars.
Flames 4, Blues 1 — Brian Elliott stopped 23 shots in his return to St. Louis, Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett each had a goal and an assist and Calgary beat St. Louis.
Elliott was traded from St. Louis to Calgary in June, and the 17,337 in attendance serenaded Elliott with chants of “Moose,” his nickname, on his first couple of saves.
Senators 3, Canucks 0 — Ryan Dzingel scored two goals and Craig Anderson made 22 saves for his first shutout of the season and the 34th of his career as visiting Ottawa beat Vancouver.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored into an empty net for the Senators.
Sharks 2, Ducks 1 — Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored less than 90 seconds into overtime to give host San Jose a victory over Anaheim.
Joe Pavelski also scored for the Sharks, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Former Xaverian star Chris Wagner scored his second of the season for the Ducks, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Kings 3, Blue Jackets 2 — Alec Martinez scored 1:14 into overtime, and host Los Angeles rallied to beat Columbus for its third straight victory.
Drew Doughty scored the tying goal with 5:57 left in regulation for the Kings, who won their third straight overtime game after an 0-3-0 start to the season. Captain Anze Kopitar also scored, and third-string goalie Peter Budaj stopped 19 shots in his third consecutive win.