Lightning raises its banner, then dominates in opener

The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed the Stanley Cup under the most unusual of circumstances — isolated and far from home — but their first game back in their home arena, a night set for celebration as they unveiled their championship banner and started their title defense, was even more atypical.

With no fans in the stands, Amalie Arena in Tampa was full of only empty blue seats. Lightning players saw their championship banner for the first time as it was lifted just 150 feet above the ice in the northwest corner of the arena and won’t be raised into the rafters until fans return to the building.

Once the puck dropped, the Lightning — wearing jerseys with mini-banners on their right shoulders for one night only — appeared driven toward that end, dismantling the Chicago Blackhawks to the tune of a resounding 5-1 win in the season opener.

If there was any question whether the Lightning would struggle on the power play out of the gate without the playmaking presence of Nikita Kucherov, they answered those questions early, scoring on two of their first three man-advantage situations of the season.

Islanders 4, Rangers ●

0: Brock Nelson, Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal scored in the opening period as the Islanders won the first of eight meetings between the

New York rivals.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 24 shots for his 28th career shutout and third with the Islanders. Defenseman Nick Leddy added two assists. Igor Shesterkin made 29 savesfor the the Rangers fell in the first of eight games between the rivals. Alexis Lafreniere, the first selection of the 2020 NHL draft, made his debut and recorded one shot.

Capitals 6, Sabres 4: T.J. Oshie had a goal and two assists in Peter Laviolette’s debut as Washington’s coach and the Capitals opened the season with a win.

Jakub Vrana stripped Eric Staal of the puck in front of Buffalo’s net and scored 46 seconds into the third period to preserve the win after the Capitals were in jeopardy of squandering a 4-1 lead.