NEWARK, N.J. -- Taylor Hall made his new fans in New Jersey very happy with two power-play goals in a 4:11 span in the second period and the Devils posted their first win, a 2-1 decision over the road-weary and penalty-plagued Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
Cory Schneider had 23 saves and forced the Ducks' Chris Wagner to lose control of the puck on a second-period penalty shot as New Jersey snapped a five-game losing streak against Anaheim in its home opener.
Sami Vatanen scored on a power play for Anaheim, which is 0-3-1 in its five-game trip to start the season. John Gibson made 26 saves for Ducks, who played shorthanded seven times.
Hall, the former No. 1 overall draft pick who was acquired in a major trade with Edmonton in late June, tied the game at 1-all, putting the rebound of a shot by Mike Cammalleri into an open net at 12:35 (see full recap).
Capitals hand Avalanche first loss
WASHINGTON -- T.J. Oshie scored twice and Alex Ovechkin picked up his first goal of the season, helping the Washington Capitals beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin and Oshie each scored on the power play to end Washington's man-advantage scoring drought, and the Avalanche lost for the first time under new coach Jared Bednar. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov was sharp in stopping 37 of 40 shots behind Colorado teammates who were noticeably tired playing the second half of a back-to-back and their third game in four days.
Philadelphia Flyers
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Washington backup Philipp Grubauer only needed 18 saves for his first career shutout because Washington had the puck for most of the game.
The Capitals entered the game 0 for 8 on the power play and lacking production from the first line, but those problems went away in quick succession (see full recap).
Canadiens blank Penguins in home opener
MONTREAL -- David Desharnais scored twice and Al Montoya made 36 saves as the Montreal Canadiens won their home opener, 4-0 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Off-season signing Alexander Radulov got his first goal as a Canadien -- with Montoya picking up an assist -- while Max Pacioretty also scored for Montreal, which has started the season 2-0-1. Montoya, signed from the Florida Panthers this summer, picked up his sixth career shutout.
The Penguins, coming off an overtime loss at home Monday night, played their first road game of the season.
While the ailing Carey Price got a huge ovation from the Bell Centre crowd in pre-game introductions, his replacement Montoya was spectacular in goal as Pittsburgh outshot the Canadiens 36-32 (see full recap).
