Hornqvist, Penguins power up, beat Caps
Patric Hornqvist scored a power-play goal and assisted on another in his season debut to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Capitals, 3-2, last night in Washington in the teams’ first meeting since the playoffs.
Hornqvist assisted on a goal by Kris Letang, the defenseman’s first since Feb. 4 after missing the end of last season and playoffs because of neck surgery. Hornqvist, who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal last spring despite a broken finger on his right hand, was playing for the first time since offseason surgery to repair it.
Conor Sheary scored the Penguins’ third goal as they were 3-for-6 on the power play. The Capitals’ six minor penalties were a season high and contributed to their first regulation loss.
Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading eighth goal of the season in the Capitals’ fourth game. Christian Djoos assisted on Ovechkin’s goal and scored in his NHL debut to become the third defenseman in franchise history to score in his debut after Steve Poapst and Hall of Famer Scott Stevens.
Matt Murray stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced to pick up the victory. Braden Holtby made 33 saves for Washington.
Although Ovechkin’s goal made things interesting at 3-2 with 7:09 left in the third period, Hornqvist staked the Penguins to a lead and paid immediate dividends in his return. Coach Mike Sullivan expected Hornqvist to be “a momentum guy,” which the 30-year-old Swede was on the power play.
Hornqvist was on the ice and around the net for all three Penguins goals. He also scored in their Game 7 win in Washington in the second round of the playoffs last year, the last time these teams faced each other.
Devils 6, Maple Leafs 3 — Brian Gibbons had a rare 3-on-5 goal, Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha each scored twice and unbeaten New Jersey ended host Toronto’s perfect start to the season.
Blake Coleman also scored, and Cory Schneider made 47 saves to help New Jersey open 3-0-0 for the first time since 2014-15.
Tied 2-2 after 20 minutes, New Jersey scored twice in the second period despite being outshot 17-12.
A key moment came late in the period with the Devils taking two minors on one play. Rather than Toronto taking advantage, New Jersey killed off the penalties and scored shorthanded to make it 4-2.
Jake Gardiner was unable to keep the puck in at the New Jersey blue line and two Devils broke in. William Nylander’s backcheck swept the puck off Adam Henrique’s stick, and the puck went off goalie Frederik Andersen to Gibbons in front.
Auston Matthews, with his third of the season, cut it to 5-3 with 6:26 remaining and the Maple Leafs on a two-man advantage. James van Riemsdyk and Dominic Moore also scored for Toronto.
Ducks 3, Islanders 2 — John Gibson made 38 saves and host Anaheim ended a four-game losing streak to New York.
Andrew Cogliano, Rickard Rakell and Patrick Eaves all scored for the Ducks, who won despite being outshot 41-30.