< Anders Bjork
scores twice as the Bruins beat the Canucks 6-3. Patrice Bergeron has a goal and three assists in season debut for Boston.
Bruins 6, Canucks 3
Patrice Bergeron had a goal and three assists in his season debut, moving up to seventh on Boston's career scoring list as the Bruins beat Vancouver on Thursday night. Anders Bjork scored twice for Boston, Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists and David Pastrnak added a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who scored five straight goals after falling behind 1-0 early in the first period. Anton Khudobin made 26 saves for Boston while starting in place of Tuukka Rask, who is out indefinitely with a concussion he suffered in practice Wednesday. Derek Dorsett, Bo Horvat and Thomas Vanek scored for the Canucks, and Michael Del Zotto had two assists. The Bruins scored three power-play goals in the first after Erik Gudbranson was called for a boarding major for a hit from behind on Frank Vatrano 6:13 into the game. Gudbranson also received a game misconduct and a fighting major when Tim Schaller stepped in for his fallen teammate. Pastrnak gave Boston its first lead when he took the puck end-to-end and split a pair of Vancouver defenders in front of the net and beat Jacob Markstrom 9:03 into the first. Just after the faceoff, Boston was right back in the Canucks zone and Bjork scored his second of the game on a snap shot from the circle at 9:26 of the first off a setup from Krejci. Still on the major power play, the Bruins scored again 1:24 later when a long rebound off a shot by Bergeron bounced right to Krejci at the left circle and he knocked in the puck for his first goal of the season. Bergeron, who missed Boston's first five games while recovering from offseason surgery for a sports hernia, got his second assist of the night on Krejci's goal and added a third at 10:05 of the second period when Marchand's wrist shot from the right circle beat Anders Nilsson, who replaced Markstrom after the first. Bergeron also assisted on Bjork's first goal, which tied it at 1-all 3:29 into the game, and added his first goal of the season with a one-timer from in front at 11:53 of the third to put Boston up 6-3. Pastrnak and Marchand assisted on the goal, which moved Bergeron past Ken Hodge to No. 7 on the Bruins' scoring list with 674 points. Nilsson finished with 16 saves on 18 shots. Markstrom was pulled after allowing four goals on 17 shots in the first.
Islanders 4, Rangers 3 (SO)
John Tavares scored in the shootout to lift Islanders over the Rangers for their eighth win in the last nine games against their struggling crosstown rivals. Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal scored in regulation, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 38 shots to help the Islanders recover after blowing a two-goal lead in the third to finish 2-2-0 on a four-game trip. David Desharnais, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes scored, and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 35 saves for the Rangers, who lost their fifth straight (0-3-2) to fall to 1-5-2. It's their fewest points after eight games since they were 1-6-1 to start the 1959-60 season. Back then, teams got a point for a tie, none for losing in overtime and there were no shootouts. Jordan Eberle also scored for the Islanders in the shootout, and Zuccarello got one for the Rangers. Halak then stopped Mika Zibanejad and Desharnais to secure the win. The Rangers trailed 3-1 after two periods and pulled within one about 3 1/2 minutes into the third. Brandan Smith rushed up the ice and tried to send a pass across in front to Hayes. Lee got his stick on the puck to block the pass, but Zuccarello swooped in and put it past Halak for his second of the season.
Devils 5, Senators 4 (OT)
John Moore scored 1:20 into overtime and New Jersey used three unanswered goals to beat Ottawa. This year's No. 1 draft pick Nico Hischier scored twice for New Jersey. The Swiss center's opening goal was the first of his NHL career. Kyle Palmieri and Marcus Johansson also scored for the Devils, who improved to 4-0-0 on the road and 6-1-0 overall. Cory Schneider allowed four goals on 24 shots before leaving with a lower-body injury. Keith Kinkaid started the third period and stopped nine shots. Taylor Hall chipped in with four assists. Kyle Turris, Derick Brassard, Alex Burrows and Tom Pyatt scored for the Senators, and Craig Anderson made 41 saves. With Ottawa leading 4-2, the Devils made it a one-goal game early in the third when Palmieri was able to slip behind the Ottawa defense and beat Anderson high after a collision just inside the blue line. The Devils tied it with under five minutes remaining when Ottawa's defensemen were caught behind the net, leaving Johansson all alone out front.