SAAD, BLACKHAWKS ROUT PENGUINS 10-1 IN OPENER

CHICAGO» Brandon Saad scored three times in his return to Chicago and Ryan Hartman had a goal and four assists, helping the Blackhawks pound the Penguins 10-1 on Thursday night.

Nick Schmaltz added two goals and an assist as Chicago kicked off its season in style with a runaway victory against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Patrick Kane also had a goal and three assists in the Blackhawks’ highest-scoring game since a 10-1 win against Winnipeg on Oct. 12, 1988.

Pittsburgh was coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis in its season opener Wednesday, and it looked every bit like a team on the second half of backto-back nights. Antti Niemi was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots in his Penguins debut, forcing Matt Murray to come in after he took the loss against the Blues.

THURSDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Jake DeBrusk had a goal and assist in his first NHL game, Charlie McAvoy added a goal and assist in his first regularseason appearance and the Bruins beat the Predators 4-3 in the season opener for each team. … Henrik Zetterberg and Martin Frk scored in the third period to lift the Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Wild in the first regular-season game at Little Caesars Arena. Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin scored 23 seconds apart in the second period for the Red Wings, who rallied after blowing a 2-0 lead early in the third. Joel Eriksson Ek and Chris Stewart scored 48 seconds apart to tie it, and then Zetterberg put Detroit back ahead to stay with 12:53 remaining. The Red Wings said goodbye to Joe Louis Arena in April and moved to a new downtown venue they will share with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. … Jonathan Drouin scored the lone shootout goal, rallying the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Sabres in the season opener for each team. Phillip Danault forced overtime by scoring a short-handed goal on a wraparound with 11:59 left. … Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick in a 6:33 span in the third period and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the shootout winner in the Capitals’ 5-4 victory over the Senators in the season opener for each team.

FOOTNOTE

Devils become first NHL team to partner with NWHL.

The New Jersey Devils have become the first NHL franchise to partner with a National Women’s Hockey League team. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the Devils’ parent company, announced the partnership with the Metropolitan Riveters on Thursday. The goal is to support the growth of the NWHL, a fourteam league that started in 2015.