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Ovechkin scores first goal, Caps get first win
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season Sunday, and the Washington Capitals became the last NHL team to get a win, beating the Buffalo Sabres 3-2.
After a fruitless first week, Ovechkin found the net with a one-timer from the left circle on a power play with 14:49 remaining in the game.
Joel Ward had a goal and an assist, John Erskine also scored, and Michal Neuvirth made 22 saves for the Capitals, who had opened with four consecutive losses for the first time since the 1993-94 season. The sluggish start led players and new coach Adam Oates to openly question the team's work ethic.
Ovechkin was also making the transition to right wing after playing on the left side for his entire NHL career. Oates suspended that experiment during the third game and put the Russian back on the left.
Ovechkin's goal gave Washington a 3-1 lead. Marcus Foligno put in a rebound with 9:47 remaining to pull the Sabres within one, but Neuvirth and the Capitals survived Buffalo's final push for a tying goal.
Ovechkin should have had a second goal in the final minute, but he hit the post of an empty net after the Sabres had pulled Ryan Miller for an extra skater.
Tyler Ennis scored in the first period, and Miller made 27 saves for the Sabres, who have lost three straight after opening the season with a pair of wins. Buffalo played without left wing Thomas Vanek, who had been on the ice for all 11 goals in Buffalo's first four games. Vanek sat out with a muscle strain, sustained in the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Canadiens 4, Devils 3: Andrei Markov scored 4:22 into overtime on a power play as Montreal recovered from blowing a two-goal lead to defeat New Jersey.
Markov was at the edge of the crease and lifted the rebound of Rene Bourque's shot off the end boards into an open side for his fourth goal. The Canadiens went on the man advantage after Andy Greene took down Erik Cole at 4:01.
Brendan Gallagher scored his first NHL goal and linemate Brandon Prust got his first with the Canadiens. Ryan White also scored for Montreal.
The Canadiens took a 3-1 lead early in the third period, but David Clarkson scored on a power play and Dainius Zubrus tied the game at 13:02. Patrick Elias also scored.
Blackhawks 2, Red Wings 1: Nick Leddy scored 2:45 into overtime and the Chicago improved to 6-0 -- the best start in franchise history.
After taking a cross-ice pass from Viktor Stalberg, Leddy fired from the left circle and beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard with a shot that slipped just under his glove.
Sharks 4, Canucks 1: Joe Pavelski had two goals to help undefeated San Jose beat Vancouver.
Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton also scored for the Sharks, who improved to 5-0-0. Antti Niemi made 23 saves as coach Todd McLellan earned his 200th career victory.
Jets 5, Islanders 4: Evander Kane scored 1:59 into overtime to give Winnipeg come-from-behind victory.
Kane, who also had an assist, tapped the puck in past goalie Evgeni Nabokov after a rebound from a long Olli Jokinen shot.
Blues 5, Wild 4: Vladimir Sobotka scored from close range at 2:16 of overtime to give St. Louis the victory.
Minnesota's Dany Heatley forced the overtime, tying it at 4 when he batted the puck out of the air with 4:08 left in regulation for his fourth goal of the season. The Wild have lost three straight.
Sharks 4, Canucks 1
Vancouver010--1
San Jose211--4
First Period--1, San Jose, Thornton 3 (Vlasic, Stuart), :43. 2, San Jose, Pavelski 1, 3:26.
Second Period--3, Vancouver, Burrows 1 (Hansen), 11:05. 4, San Jose, Marleau 9 (Boyle, Couture), 14:27 (pp).
Third Period--5, San Jose, Pavelski 2 (Thornton, Marleau), 8:14 (pp).
Shots on Goal--Vancouver 6-13-5--24. San Jose 9-8-10--27.
Power-play opportunities--Vancouver 0 of 7; San Jose 2 of 8.
Goalies--Vancouver, Schneider 2-2-0 (27 shots-23 saves). San Jose, Niemi 4-0-0 (24-23).
Referees--Mike Hasenfratz, Dave Jackson. Linesmen--Mike Cvik, Darren Gibbs.
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