Bruins hold off Predators

BOSTON » Jake DeBrusk had a goal and assist in his first NHL game, Charlie McAvoy added a goal and assist in his first regular-season appearance and the Boston Bruins beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.

David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand also scored, and David Krejci finished with three assists. Anders Bjork added an assist in his first NHL start.

Nashville tied the game 1-1 with a late goal in the first period by Viktor Arvidsson and got late goals in the third by Scott Hartnell and Filip Forsberg. But the defending Western Conference champions were outshot 32-29 on the night. Tuukka Rask had 26 saves for Boston. Pekka Rinne stopped 28 shots for the Predators.

Boston played without center Patrice Bergeron (lower body) and forward David Backes (illness).

The Predators face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Stanley Cup finals rematch on Saturday night. CANADIENS 3, SABRES 2 » Jonathan Drouin scored the lone shootout goal in rallying Montreal to a victory over Buffalo.

Phillip Danault forced overtime by scoring a short-handed goal on a wraparound with 11:59 left. Max Pacioretty also scored for Montreal. Carey Price stopped 43 shots through overtime and all three shootout attempts following an offseason in which he signed an eight-year, $84 million contract.

Jason Pominville scored twice in his first game back with Buffalo since being reacquired in a trade with Minnesota in June. AVALANCHE 4, RANGERS 2 » Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots, Tyson Barrie scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period and Colorado beat New York in the teams’ opener.

Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen scored in the first period, and Gabriel Landeskog added an empty-netter for the Avalanche.

Mika Zibanejad scored two power-play goals late in the first period for the Ranger. The loss spoiled Kevin Shattenkirk’s debut with the Rangers after the prized free agent signed with his hometown team in the offseason.