Kotkaniemi scores in return to Montreal
Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored his first goal for Carolina in his return to Montreal, helping the Hurricanes beat the winless Canadiens 4-1 on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old Kotkaniemi left the Canadiens for the Hurricanes over the summer after signing a $6.1 million offer sheet. The Finn was booed every time he touched the ice, let alone the puck.
With 10:37 to go, Kotkaniemi tipped in a shot from Brady Skjei to restore Carolina’s two-goal lead.
Sebastian Aho had two goals and an assist, Andrei Svechnikov also scored and Vincent Trocheck and Teuvo Teravainen each had two assists.
Frederik Andersen made 27 saves, allowing only Tyler Toffoli’s goal.
Jake Allen made 29 saves as Montreal dropped to 0-5-0 after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
CAPITALS 4, DEVILS 1 » Daniel Sprong set up Washington’s first goal and scored on a second-period breakaway in a victory over New Jersey.
Anthony Mantha, Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored to help the Capitals improve to 3-0-1 and drop the Devils to 2-1-0. Alex Ovechkin had his three-game goals streak snapped but had an assist on Orlov’s goal.
BLUE JACKETS 3, ISLANDERS 2, OT »
Patrik Laine scored at 1:49 of overtime to lift Columbus past New York.
Laine’s wrist shot from the left circle sent him tumbling to the ice and beat Ilya Sorokin. Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves as Columbus improved to 3-1.
The Islanders dropped to 1-3.
PANTHERS 4, AVALANCHE 1 »
Sam Bennett scored the go-ahead goal, Sergei Bobrovsky earned his 300th NHL victory and Florida beat Colorado to remained undefeated.
The 4-0-0 start is the best in Panthers history. They had seven points in the standings through the first four games on three other occasions: 1996-97, 1999-2000 and last season. Florida made the playoffs in each of those seasons.
Anton Lundell had a goal and an assist, and Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Panthers.
FLAMES 3, RED WINGS 0 » Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves for his ninth career NHL shutout in Calgary’s victory over Detroit.
Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane and Matthew Tkachuk scored.