Mike Modano’s third-period goal snapped a tie and lifted the slumping Dallas Stars to a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday in the return to Madison Square Garden of noted pest Sean Avery.
Avery heard boos from the crowd that mostly adored him during his one-and-a-half seasons with the Rangers, cheers when he was leveled twice in the third period, and mocking chants of his name when he picked himself off the ice following a hit by Dan Girardi.
Modano made it all worth it for the Stars, who had allowed an NHL-high 23 goals in starting the season 1-3-1.
PHOTO: AP
PENGUINS 2, BRUINS 1, SO
At Boston, Evgeni Malkin scored in the second extra round of the shootout to lift Pittsburgh over Boston in the Bruins’ home-opener.
Phil Kessel scored on Boston’s first shootout attempt before Petr Sykora tied it on the Penguins’ second shot. Malkin beat goaltender Tim Thomas with a forehand shot inside the left post, and Pittsburgh goalie Dany Sabourin stopped Boston’s Marc Savard’s wrist shot, ending the contest.
It was the Penguins’ fourth overtime game (3-1) in their seven contests this season.
CANADIENS 3, PANTHERS 1
At Montreal, Francis Bouillon scored 10:53 into the third period in his season debut and the Canadiens extended their winning streak to five games with a victory over Florida.
Bouillon, who was sidelined by a leg injury in Montreal’s first five games of the season, restored the Canadiens’ one-goal lead when he drove a slap shot from the left point past Tomas Vokoun for an unassisted goal.
Saku Koivu recorded his 600th career point when he scored for a third straight game in the second period. Tomas Plekanec scored into an empty net with 21.1 seconds remaining.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 35 shots in his second start of the season, losing a shutout bid on Keith Ballard’s tying goal 7:20 into the third. The 23-year-old Slovak allowed one goal in a 6-1 win in Toronto on Oct. 11 that launched Montreal’s current streak.
AVALANCHE 4, KINGS 3
At Los Angeles, Ryan Smyth had two goals and Milan Hejduk extended his season-opening goal streak to six games, leading Colorado over Los Angeles.
David Jones scored his first of the season for the Avalanche, who have gotten goals from a league-high 15 different players through the first week-and-a-half of the season.
Paul Stastny had two assists, giving the Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk line a combined total of 11 goals and 24 points.
Peter Budaj made 26 saves for his first victory this season, after coming in 0-3 with a 4.38 goals-against average and a save percentage of .824.
Oscar Moller and defenseman Drew Doughty each scored their first NHL goals for the Kings. Moller also assisted on a goal by Patrick O’Sullivan.
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