Two more for torrid Marleau
About the only thing Patrick Marleau is struggling at so far this season is finding an explanation for his record start.
Marleau became the second player in NHL history to open a season with four straight multigoal games, striking twice on the power play in the first period in the Sharks’ 4-0 victory against the Colorado Avalanche yesterday in San Jose, Calif.
Marleau has scored exactly two goals in each game this season, joining Ottawa’s Cy Denneny in 1917-18 as the only players to open a campaign with four multigoal games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He has outscored the Sharks’ opponents, who have seven goals in four games.
After killing off 16 straight penalties coming into this game, Colorado allowed goals on San Jose’s first three power plays.
Rangers 5, Maple Leafs 2 — Host New York had a 4217 shot advantage, but needed defenseman Marc Staal to score the tying goal early in the third period and set up Marian Gaborik’s game-winner late to edge Toronto.
Before the game, the Rangers recalled forward Benn Ferriero from Connecticut of the AHL. The Governor’s Academy and BC grad was acquired from Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Flyers 7, Panthers 1 — In Sunrise, Fla., Matt Read notched his first career hat trick and Philadelphia won its second straight in a rout. Wayne Simmonds, Tye McGinn, Luke Schenn, and Ruslan Fedotenko also scored for the Flyers, and Ilya Bryzgalov had 30 saves.
Scott Clemmensen stopped 13 shots in relief of Jose Theodore, who was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period.
Blackhawks 3, Blue Jackets 2 — Jonathan Toews scored the game-winner early in the third period and Corey Crawford had 24 saves to help visiting Chicago win in Columbus, matching the 1971-72 team for the best start in franchise history at 5-0-0.
Kings 4, Coyotes 2 — In Glendale, Ariz., Anze Kopitar scored two goals to spark Los Angeles’ top line and the defending Stanley Cup champs beat Phoenix for their first victory of the season. The Kings’ top line of Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams combined for four points.
Blues 4, Stars 3 — David Perron scored two goals and had an assist, and Wade Redden notched his first NHL goal in almost three years to lead St. Louis to a victory in Dallas.
Flames 4, Oilers 3 — Curtis Glencross and Lee Stempniak each scored their third goal of the season in the second period and host Calgary held off rival Edmonton.
Elsewhere in the NHL — Montreal forward Max Pacioretty will miss 3-4 weeks after having an emergency appendectomy. He has four assists and a team-high 10 shots on goal in three games this season. . . .
The agent for suspended Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky says he will report to the team by Feb. 11, and that Visnovsky’s absence is due to “personal medical reasons within his immediate family.”