Ovechkin adds second hat trick
Capitals’ sniper is first to score at least 3 goals in first 2 games in last 100 years
Alex Ovechkin scored four goals to become the first player in 100 years with back-to-back hat tricks to open a season, and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 on Saturday night.
Ovechkin had three goals in the third period in Thursday’s opening night win at Ottawa, then matched the feat while helping chase Montreal goalie Carey Price in the first period Saturday. He added his fourth goal at 16:46 of the second period against Al Montoya.
It was the fourth fourgoal game of his career and second against the Canadiens.
Braden Holtby stopped 38 shots and T.J. Oshie also scored for Washington.
Ovechkin opened the scoring 20 seconds in, added his second goal at 2:51 and his third at 18:10. Evgeny Kutnetsov assisted on all four of Ovechkin’s goals.
Oshie gave Washington a 2-0 lead 46 seconds into the game, and the Capitals led 4-0 after one. PENGUINS 4, PREADTORS 0 » Evgeni Malkin scored, Matt Murray stopped 26 shots and host Pittsburgh beat Nashville in a Stanley Cup Final rematch. ISLANDERS 6, BUFFALO 3 » John Tavares scored twice to lead host New York to a victory over Buffalo in their home opener.
HURRICANES 5, WILD 4 » Jaccob Slavin scored in the shootout and host Carolina beat Minnesota. PANTHERS 5, LIGHTNING 4 » Jared McCann scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period after a review overturned the initial ruling of goalie interference, and host Florida beat Tampa Bay. DEVILS 4, AVALANCHE 1 » Hobey Baker Award winner Will Butcher set up three power-play goals to steal the spotlight from No. 1 overall draft pick Nico Hischier, and new-look New Jersey opened the season with a victory at home. RED WINGS 2, SENATORS 1 » Frans Nielsen scored the only goal in the shootout and visiting Detroit edged Ottawa. MAPLE LEAFS 8, RANGERS 5 » Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov and Nazem Kadri scored third-period goals and host Toronto held off New York in its wild home opener. GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2, COYOTES 1 (OT) » James Neal’s goal at 3:46 of overtime gave expansion Vegas it second win in two games. BLACKHAWKS 5, BLUE JACKETS1» Brandon Saad, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and assist to lead host Chicago over Columbus. FLYERS 3, DUCKS 2 (OT) » Wayne Simmonds scored 44 seconds into overtime to give visiting Philadelphia a victory over the Ducks.
Notes
JAGER NEEDS A FEW DAYS » Jaromir Jagr wants more time before making his debut with the Calgary Flames.
The 45-year-old right wing decided not to play in Calgary’s home opener Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets.
After arriving Wednesday from the Czech Republic, Jagr had two practices and the pregame skate Saturday with his new team.
Coach Glen Gulutzan said when Jagr plays the first game of his 24th NHL season is his decision.
“He said he felt a lot better the second day than he did the first and that he probably needs a couple more skates, good skates,” Gulutzan said Saturday. “I thought he was very good yesterday, for a 45-yearold guy to come in with no training camp. He was arguably one of our best guys yesterday, but he needs a couple more days to get up to game speed.”
Second only to Wayne Gretzky in NHL scoring with 1,914 points, Jagr signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Flames. If he plays 57 games, he’ll pass Gordie Howe’s record of 1,767. LIGHTNING’S BROWN RAISES FIST DURING ANTHEM » Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown raised his right fist during the playing of the national anthem before the team’s first road game of the season.
The 27-year-old Brown, who was scratched for Tampa Bay’s season-opening win against Florida, remained standing throughout the anthem Saturday night. Brown, one of approximately 30 black players in the NHL, used the same protest before a preseason game against the Panthers last month.