Read the reports from Tuesday’s NHL games.
First defeat for the Canucks
Sean Couturier scored his first goal in nearly two years on a penalty shot, Carter Hart made 25 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 on Tuesday. in their first home game this season.
After being knocked down by Elias Pettersson, Couturier beat Thatcher Demko to make it 2-0 with 2:37 left in the first period. Couturier approached from the right, turning his back on Demko, before pivoting to outwit him from the other side.
Couturier scored his first goal since December 10, 2021. He was sidelined for the second part of the 2021-2022 season and throughout the last campaign due to a back injury.
The Canucks lost their first game after winning their first two meetings against the Edmonton Oilers.
Rookie Egor Zamula scored his first NHL goal at 1:45 in the first period, beating Demko glove side.
The Flyers continued to apply pressure in the second period, outshooting them 23-2.
The Canucks seemed to have reduced the gap at the start of the third when a shot from Carson Soucy fooled Hart. However, the goal was canceled on video review due to an obstructive gesture by Conor Garland, at the expense of the goalkeeper.
The Flyers will host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The same evening, the Canucks will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Aaron Bracy, Associated Press
Islanders beat Coyotes 1-0
PHOTO WENDELL CRUZ, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Matthew Barzal (13)
Mathew Barzal scored on a power play in the second period on Tuesday, helping the New York Islanders win 1-0 over the Arizona Coyotes.
Noah Dobson and Kyle Palmieri were complicit in Barzal’s first goal of 2023-24.
Barzal scored with a one-timer at 3:47. Barret Hayton was punished for hitting Simon Holmstrom with a stick.
Ilya Sorokin made 14 saves, earning his first shutout of the campaign. The Islanders are 2-0-0 for the first time since 2014-15, when they started the season with four straight wins.
The Islanders will play at home again on Friday against the New Jersey Devils.
Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots for the Coyotes, who lost a second straight game. The team had only shot seven times after two periods.
After a visit to St. Louis on Thursday, Arizona will play for the first time in front of its home crowd on Saturday, against the Anaheim Ducks.
Scott Charles, Associated Press
The Sabers win in overtime against the Lightning
PHOTO TIMOTHY T. LUDWIG, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates his goal scored in overtime.
Dylan Cozens scored in overtime and the Buffalo Sabers recorded their first victory of the season, 3-2, against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
The Sabers controlled most of the game in overtime. Cozens accepted a pass at the top of the slot before skating to the right circle and firing a shot that beat Johansson.
Zemgus Girgensons and Jeff Skinner had previously hit the target for the Sabres, who then let their lead slip away.
Quebec goaltender Devon Levi blocked 21 pucks after losing his first two games of the campaign.
Brandon Hagel scored twice for the Lightning, including the goal that forced the overtime period, with seven seconds remaining in the third period.
After the Sabers failed to clear the puck out of their zone, Brayden Point collected the puck near the boards and headed it toward the net, where Hagel knocked it out of the air with his stick. Levi appeared to make the initial save, but Hagel insisted on sliding the puck behind the goalie.
His fourth goal – a record for the Lightning – still allowed his team to collect a point.
Jonas Johansson finished the game with 28 saves, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Lightning from a third consecutive defeat.
The Lightning will play their next home game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Sabers will host the Calgary Flames.
John Wawrow, Associated Press
Draisaitl scores twice in Nashville win
PHOTO MARK ZALESKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Leon Draisaitl (29)
Leon Draisaitl had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers scored their first win this season on Tuesday, inflicting a 6-1 loss on the Nashville Predators.
Draisaitl scored his two goals on the power play. Zach Hyman provided a goal and three assists. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and two assists.
Connor McDavid and Warren Foegele were the other Oilers scorers, while Jack Campbell blocked 41 shots.
Edmonton had been beaten twice by Vancouver so far.
Tommy Novak scored for the Predators, who have won just once in four games this season.
Juuse Saros was beaten four times in 11 shots, before giving way to Kevin Lankinen. The latter was thwarted twice in 19 shots.
The Oilers will play in Philadelphia on Thursday. The same evening, the Predators will face the Rangers in New York.
Jim Diamond, Associated Press
The Kings obtain their first victory of the season against the Jets
PHOTO FRED GREENSLADE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jordan Spence (21) and Phillip Danault (24)
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored on his return to Winnipeg and Phillip Danault had a goal and two assists to help the Los Angeles Kings score their first victory this season by defeating the Jets 5-1 on Tuesday.
Dubois was traded to the Kings in June for forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari. He was booed several times by Manitoba fans.
The story didn’t end as well for Vilardi as Dubois, who went down when Blake Lizotte tripped him in the boards at 5:55 of the first period. He grabbed his right knee before leaving the match without returning.
Travis Moore had a double and added an assist. Arthur Kaliyev also moved the ropes.
Cam Talbot, who was taken to Los Angeles via the free agent market this summer, made 26 saves.
Jets center Mark Scheifele saved his team from a sweep by scoring with 76 seconds left in the third period.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 pucks for the Jets.
The Jets will finish a three-game homestand by hosting the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. The same day, the Kings will visit the Minnesota Wild.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press