Crosby scores as Pittsburgh Penguins cruise to second victory

Crosby was joined in scoring for a second consecutive game by Chuck Kobasew and Craig Adams to highlight the night in hockey on Saturday.

Sidney Crosby (center) has led the defending Atlantic Division champion Penguins to a 2-0 start. Gene J. Puskar / AP

Penguins 4, Sabres 1

The Pittsburgh Penguins got goals in consecutive games from Sidney Crosby, Chuck Kobasew, and Craig Adams on their way to victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

The win improved Pittsburgh’s record to 2-0, while the Sabres are winless at 0-3.

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Blues 7, Panthers 0

Jaroslav Halak stopped 19 Florida shots to post his 17th career shutout as the goalie for the St Louis Blues, breaking a tie with Glenn Hall for the most shutouts in franchise history as the Blues routed the Florida Panthers.

Halak, who had stopped 28 of 30 shots in a season-opening win against Nashville on Thursday, benefitted from a strong Blues defence, which helped kill off six Florida power-play opportunities, keeping St Louis perfect on 10 shorthanded situations in their first two games.

It was Halak’s 26th career shutout in the NHL.

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Maple Leafs 5, Senators 4 (2OT)

Tyler Bozak and Mason Raymond scored in a shootout as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators to remain undefeated after three games.

It was the home opener for the Maple Leafs (3-0) who won their first two games of the season on the road. The Senators (1-1) did not score in their two attempts in the shootout.

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Canadiens 4, Flyers 1

Brendan Gallagher, Brian Gionta and Lars Eller each had a goal and an assist to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a comfortable home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Rene Bourque also scored and Carey Price made 22 saves for Montreal, who rebounded from their season-opening loss to Toronto.

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Sharks 4, Coyotes 1

Tomas Hertl, San Jose’s 19-year-old rookie sensation, scored his first two career NHL goals, celebrating each with youthful enthusiasm, to lead the Sharks past the Phoenix Coyotes.

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Canucks 6, Oilers 2

Daniel Sedin scored a goal and added an assist, and his twin brother Henrik furnished three helpers as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers.

The Canucks (1-1) posted a win in their home opener while keeping the Oilers winless after two games in the young season.

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Blue Jackets 3, Islanders 2 (SO)

Cam Atkinson’s shootout goal capped a comeback and lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a road victory over the New York Islanders.

Columbus went last in the shootout and Atkinson, the fourth Blue Jackets player to shoot, faked Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov to the left and beat him with a shot into the right-hand corner of the net.

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Bruins 4, Red Wings 1

Torey Krug scored the first regular-season goal of his career and added an assist and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves as the Boston Bruins beat the Detroit Red Wings at home.

Milan Lucic had two assists for the Bruins, who outshot the Red Wings 37-26.

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Ducks 4, Wild 3 (OT)

Mathieu Perreault scored in the final seconds of overtime as the Anaheim Ducks survived a scare to beat the Minnesota Wild on the road.

Zach Parise had a pair of goals and Jason Pominville scored his first of the season for the Wild (0-0-2), who twice rallied from a two-goal deficit but are still looking for their first win.

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Stars 2, Capitals 1

The Dallas Stars gave new coach Lindy Ruff his first win, beating the Washington Capitals at home.

Rookie Alex Chiasson scored the eventual winner in the second period.

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Lightning 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)

Valtteri Filppula’s goal in the shootout led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Filppula’s was the only goal by either team in the shootout. Teammate Victor Hedman missed on his attempt, while all three Chicago shooters, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, were stopped by Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop.