WASHINGTON -- Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists in his season debut to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Backstrom, who led the NHL with 60 assists last season, missed the team's first three games while recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery in late May. The center scored in the third period and assisted on power-play goals from T.J. Oshie (one goal, one assist) and John Carlson.
Washington broke the game open with three third-period goals, the last coming from Alex Ovechkin.
Carolina goalie Cam Ward kept the game close, finishing with 30 saves and robbing the Capitals several times. However, the Hurricanes did little on offense, finishing with one goal or fewer for the third time in their first five games.
The lone Carolina goal came when Jeff Skinner banked a shot off Washington goalie Braden Holtby's foot with 12:15 left. That cut the lead to 2-1.
Washington finished with a 34-19 edge in shots, and Holtby made 18 saves (see full recap).
Bishop, Killorn help Lightning beat Sabres
TAMPA, Fla. -- Ben Bishop set a team record for career wins, Alex Killorn scored a go-ahead goal late in the third period and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Saturday night.
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Tampa Bay also got a goal from Vladislav Namestnikov.
Sam Reinhart scored his first NHL goal for the Sabres, who have scored once in three of their five games this season.
Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman, hurt when he was checked into the boards by Dallas' Jamie Benn in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Stars, didn't play. The team said Hedman, who underwent concussion protocols, is day to day with an uspecified injury.
Bishop won his 84th game with the Lightning, breaking a tie with Nikolai Khabibulin after making 31 saves.
Chad Johnson made 20 saves for Buffalo.
Killorn made it 2-1 from the low-right circle during a power play with 3:57 to play (see full recap).
Malkin, Maatta goals lead Penguins past Leafs
PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins held on for a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
Malkin scored his second goal in as many games and Maatta collected his first of the season for Pittsburgh. Forward Phil Kessel faced Toronto for the first time since the Leafs shipped the three-time All-Star to Pittsburgh in a blockbuster July trade.
Marc-Andre Fleury, playing in his 600th career game, made 26 saves as Pittsburgh won its sixth straight against Toronto.
Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby hasn't scored in the team's first five games, a career-worst stretch to start the season.
Jake Gardiner scored his second goal in as many nights for Toronto, which has lost four of five to begin the season. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier, making his first start, stopped 31 shots (see full recap).