Read the reports of the games played Wednesday in the NHL.
Updated yesterday at 10:46 p.m.
David Pastrnak scored a goal and had three assists as the Boston Bruins edged the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Wednesday in the two teams’ first game of the season.
Pastrnak set up Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron’s power play goal by directing a shot on net. This goal, the first of the game, allowed the Bruins to set the tone for the future.
Pastrnak was then complicit in the goals of Taylor Hall and David Krejci.
Krejci had two assists in his first NHL game after spending the past season playing in his native Czechia.
Hampus Lindholm scored the last goal for the Bruins in an empty net.
Jim Montgomery won his first game behind the Bruins bench. He was fired from his first NHL head coaching job by the Dallas Stars in December 2019, after the team alleged unprofessional conduct.
In early 2020, Montgomery said the “appropriate” decision acted as a “wake-up call,” announcing he was going to a rehab for alcohol abuse.
Linus Ullmark made 33 saves, including a spectacular one with the glove past Evgeny Kuznetsov in the third period.
Darcy Kuemper struggled in his debut for the Capitals, allowing four goals on 29 shots. Kuemper won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche last year.
Anthony Mantha and Conor Sheary hit the target for the Capitals.
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press
Hurricanes win 4-1 over Blue Jackets
PHOTO KARL B DEBLAKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Martin Necas (88) and Derek Stepan (21)
Martin Necas had a goal and two assists on Wednesday to guide the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Necas took advantage of a rebound to give the team a 3-1 lead at 6:29 in the third period.
Seth Jarvis, Brady Skjei and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes, who are undefeated in their last four opening games.
Last season the club won their first nine games of the campaign.
Frederik Andersen stopped 31 shots, yielding only to Patrick Laine.
Daniil Tarasov made 39 saves. He was given the start, as Elvis Merzlikins did not feel well enough to play.
Brent Burns of the Canes contested a 680e straight match – this is the 10e longest such streak in NHL history.
Paul Stastny, who is starting a 17e season, took part in the last net of the winners.
Columbus will try to do better Friday night at home against Tampa Bay.
Carolina begins a five-game road trip on Friday in San Jose.
Bob Sutton, Associated Press