Hughes lifts Devils past Blackhawks in OT

Canucks score twice in shootout, beat Flyers 5-4

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 16, (AP): Jack Hughes scored his second goal of the game less than a minute into overtime and the New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 after blowing a late two-goal lead.

Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach forced the overtime, scoring in the final 3:53 of regulation with the Blackhawks’ net empty.

Dougie Hamilton scored on his first shot as a Devil and Andreas Johnsson gave his team a 3-1 lead early in the third period. Jonathan Bernier made 24 saves for the Devils, who are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Alex DeBrincat also scored for Chicago, who are off to an 0-2 start after revamping their roster. Kevin Lankinen made 25 saves after being beaten 17 seconds by Hamilton after the opening faceoff.

Hughes got his game winner on an odd-man rush. He faked a shot in close to get Lankinen out of position and slid the puck into an open net.

Canucks 5, Flyers 4, SO

In Philadelphia, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller scored shootout goals and Vancouver scored four times in the second period.

Travis Konecny and Claude Giroux scored over the final 2:17 of regulation in the Flyers’ season opener that tied it 4-all and sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy.

The shootout ended the lategame enthusiasm and sent Vancouver to its first win of the season. Vasily Podkolzin scored his first NHL goal and Alex Chiasson also had one against Carter Hart in the second period. Pettersson and Miller also scored in the second. Thatcher Demko stopped 31 shots.

Cam Atkinson and Joel Farabee also scored for Philadelphia. Hart finished with 35 saves.

Wild 2, Ducks 1

In Anaheim, Calif., Marcus Foligno scored with 7.2 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Minnesota.

Foligno beat Anthony Stolarz between his legs from the slot to give the Wild a win in their season opener after dramatically remaking their roster, including buying out franchise stalwarts Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Kevin Fiala had a power-play goal and Cam Talbot made 28 saves for Minnesota.

Jakob Silfverberg scored on the power play for Anaheim, and Stolarz made 41 saves.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing MacKenzie Entwistle (58) battles for control of the puck between New Jersey Devils center Janne Kuokkanen (59) and Pavel Zacha during the third period of an NHL hockey game, on Oct. 15, in Newark, N.J. (AP)

Philadelphia Flyers’ Nate Thompson (right), and Vancouver Canucks’ Alex Chiasson collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, on Oct 15, in Philadelphia. (AP)