Chicago: The New York Rangers spoiled Chicago’s banner-raising by winning 3-2 at the Blackhawks on Wednesday as the new NHL season got under way.
The Blackhawks rolled out the banner after their sixth NHL title last season, but the Rangers quickly dampened celebrations for the sell-out crowd on what was a bad opening day for host teams.
Elsewhere, Montreal won at Toronto in a clash of Canadian heavyweights, San Jose won comfortably at Los Angeles and Vancouver swept past Calgary.
New York scored three times in the opening period, through Oscar Lindberg, Kevin Klein and Derek Stepan. J.T. Miller had two assists and Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves.
Chicago, who are aiming to be the first team in 18 years to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, got goals from Artemi Panarin and Teuvo Teravainen.
Montreal goaltender Carey Price made 36 saves to help the Canadiens win 3-1 at Toronto, tarnishing Mike Babcock’s coaching debut with the Maple Leafs.
Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty scored on Montreal’s first shot a few minutes in for the first goal of the NHL season. Alex Galchenyuk broke a tie midway through the third period, and Pacioretty added an empty-nester.
James van Riemsdyk had a power-play goal for Toronto early in the second period.
Babcock made the first coach’s challenge in NHL history and was successful in overturning a goal, with the review finding Tomas Plekanec interfered with the goaltender.
San Jose captain Joe Pavelski had a goal and two assists, and Joonas Donskoi scored in his NHL debut as the Sharks won 5-1 at Los Angeles.
Joe Thornton and Brent Burns had a goal and an assist apiece, and Tomas Hertl also scored as the Sharks thoroughly dominated their California rivals in coach Peter DeBoer’s successful debut.
Nick Shore scored the sole goal for the Kings less than two minutes in.
Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin had a goal and two assists to lead the Canucks to a 5-1 victory at Calgary.
Jannik Hansen, Brandon Sutter, Alex Burrows and Henrik Sedin also scored for the Canucks in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference quarter-finals. The Flames won that series but then lost to Anaheim.
Jiri Hudler scored for Calgary.
