FRIDAY’S GAMES
HOME team in caps.
CAPITALS 4, Sabres 3 (SO): Jakub Vrana had a goal and an assist, Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves through overtime and short-handed Washington beat Buffalo in a shootout in their home opener. Buffalo rookie Dylan Cozens scored his first NHL goal on a top-shelf snipe past Vanecek.
PENGUINS 4, Rangers 3 (SO): Kris Letang scored in the final round of a shootout to lift Pittsburgh over New York. Letang ripped a backhand over Igor Shesterkin to put the Penguins in front. Filip Chytil, Adam Fox and Kaapo Kakko scored for New York, which blew a 3-1 lead.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, Oilers 2: John Tavares broke a tie on a power play midway through the third period to help Toronto beat Edmonton for a series split. Adam Brooks scored his first NHL goal, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl scored for Edmonton, and Mikko Koskinen stopped 25 shots. The Oilers are 2-4-0.
Red Wings at BLACKHAWKS (late):
Chicago hosts Detroit after the Red Wings took down Columbus 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday. Chicago finished 7-12-3 in division play and 16-14-4 at home in the 2019-20 season. Detroit went 9-13-1 in division action and 5-26-3 on the road in the 2019-20 season.
Sharks at WILD (late): San Jose visits Minnesota after the Sharks defeated St. Louis 2-1 in a shootout on Wednesday. Minnesota went 35-27-7 overall and 8-10-1 in division games in the 2019-20 season. . San Jose went 11-11-1 in division games and 12-19-3 on the road during the 2019-20 season. The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams.
Predators at STARS (late): Dallas plays Nashville at home in its season opener. Dallas finished 12-9-3 in division action and 19-12-3 at home in the 2019-20 season. Nashville finished 35-26-8 overall and 12-7-1 in division games during the 2019-20 season.
Golden Knights at COYOTES (late): Vegas visits Arizona after Reilly Smith scored two goals in the Golden Knights’ 5-2 victory over the Coyotes on Wednesday. The teams play for the second straight game.
Avalanche at DUCKS (late): West Division foes Anaheim and Colorado take the ice. Anaheim finished 9-10-2 in division games and 16-15-5 at home in the 201920 season. Colorado went 42-20-8 overall and 10-8-2 in division play a season ago. The teams square off Friday for the first time this season.