Paul Kariya scored two goals as the St Louis Blues rallied from two goals down to edge the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in their opening game of the NHL regular season in Sweden on Friday.
St Louis turned it around by scoring three straight goals within a span of 5 minutes, 5 seconds in the second period.
The comeback started at 12:31 when Paul Kariya netted the first of his two goals on the power play, beating goalie Chris Osgood with a shot from the point.
The veteran forward scored again at 17:36 to clinch the win, beating Osgood with a shot to the stick side after skating in all alone.
B.J. Crombeen tied the score 3-3 at 14:39 when he knocked in a rebound.
The third period was scoreless.
The Blues’ win spoiled the homecoming of seven Swedes on the Detroit team.
Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, a six-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman who hails from a city near Stockholm, had a disappointing outing and finished without points.
After a slow start, the Blues took the lead 7:54 in the opening period when Jay McClement one-timed a shot from just outside the crease.
Jonathan Ericsson, one of Detroit’s eight Swedes, tied it less than three minutes later off a rebound after Kirk Maltby skated in quickly.
Maltby put Detroit ahead 2-1 with a short-handed goal at 14:01 after a solo breakaway, beating goalie Chris Mason with a shot high to the glove side.
Ville Leino made it 3-1 for Detroit with a power play goal at 7:17 in the second period. Unchecked, the Finnish forward sent a shot from the right circle past Mason’s glove side.
For the Red Wings, it was almost like home. There were red jerseys all over the building.
Detroit was listed as the home team and the pro-Detroit sellout crowd of 13,850 at Ericsson Globe arena gave the Red Wings the biggest ovation during pre-game presentations.
Detroit, with seven Swedes dressed for the game, is arguably the most popular NHL team in Sweden.
Several hundred fans from the Detroit area made the trip to Sweden for the game.
PANTHERS V BLACKHAWKS
AP, HELSINKI
Home favorite Ville Koistinen scored the winning penalty in the first NHL match played in Finland to give the Florida Panthers a season-opening 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Panthers rallied from a goal down three times to take the game into a scoreless overtime period. Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and Florida’s Steven Reinprecht then netted in the first shootout round, before Patrick Kane’s effort was saved by Tomas Vokoun and Finnish defenseman Koistinen secured the win.
“I was not really sure that the puck was in . I looked at the referee, and he acknowledged it.” Koistinen said. “This is quite unbelievable, to do this in a game before a home crowd in my home country.”
Last year, the Panthers race for a playoff spot was thwarted by inept overtime play and Vokoun is hoping that the shootout win will be the first of many this season.
Kane had given Chicago the lead with a backhand in the second period, before Michael Frolik replied. Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Sharp added goals for Chicago in the third, with Koistinen and David Booth equalizing each time for the Panthers.
Kane’s goal came from a pinpoint long distance pass from Niklas Hjalmarsson, he then accelerated before fooling Vokoun to make space for his finish at 5:19 in the second period.
The goal clearly lifted the Blackhawks who up until then had been forced on the defensive.
Frolik tied the game at 13:01 after a great pass by Steven Reinprecht.
Chicago came close to retaking the lead through Kane, who forced a fine save from Vokoun.
The Blackhawks eventually took the lead again at 3:52 in the third period through Byfuglien after a goalmouth scramble. A shot by Koistinen at 7:29 drew Florida level, assists going to Cory Stillman and Frolik.
Patrick Sharp scored at 11:36, but David Booth fired a high shot unassisted with 2:21 remaining to make it 3-3 and send the game into overtime.
In other NHL action, it was:
• Penguins 3, Rangers 2
• Flyers 2, Hurricanes 0
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