CHICAGO – The Chicago Blackhawks used a strong start against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday to keep their strong start to the season on a roll.
Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and an assist to help the Blackhawks beat the Kings 3-2, extending their season-opening points streak to 15 games.
Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks (12-0-3), who matched the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers for the second-longest season-opening points streak in NHL history. Chicago is one away from the tying the league record set by Anaheim in 2006-07 and will try to match the mark on Tuesday when it hosts Vancouver.
Mike Richards scored two power-play goals in the third period to pull the Kings within one after Chicago outplayed the Stanley Cup champions in the opening 40 minutes and built a 3-0 lead.
But the Blackhawks and goalie Ray Emery hung on.
“The guys wanted to get a good start, a good jump on L.A.,” Seabrook said. “Ray made the big saves when he needed to.”
The Blackhawks’ start to the season is beginning to reach historical proportions in more way than one.
Anaheim won the Stanley Cup in 2007 after its record-setting points start. The 1984-85 Oilers and Montreal, which opened with 14 straight in 1943-44, also won the Cup in those seasons.
Penguins 4, Sabres 3
In Buffalo, defenseman Paul Martin scored with 2:04 left and Pascal Dupuis had two goals and an assist to lift Pittsburgh to a victory over Buffalo.
Sidney Crosby also scored and had two assists, including a pass that set up Martin’s goal.
Blues 4, Canucks 3 (SO)
In Vancouver, T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald each scored in regulation and in the shootout to lead St. Louis over the Canucks.
Patrik Berglund also scored for the Blues, who closed a 3-0 road swing after a five-game skid.
Rangers 2, Capitals 1
In New York, Derek Stepan’s power-play goal early in the third period snapped a tie and completed the Rangers’ rally past Washington.
Washington, which lost to New York in the second round of last year’s playoffs, had been 11-5-2 in its last 18 regular-season games against the Rangers. New York is 5-1-1 in its past seven games.
Wild 3, Red Wings 2
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Dany Heatley, Jason Zucker and Torrey Mitchell all scored in the second period.
It was Minnesota’s first regulation win since Jan. 29 and just the second time it scored at least three goals in regulation over the last nine games.
Bruins 3, Jets 2
In Winnipeg, Brad Marchand scored 36 seconds into the third period to lift Boston to a win over the Jets.
Tyler Seguin and Daniel Paille also scored, and Patrice Bergeron had two assists for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask stopped 22 for Boston to earn his seventh win of the season.
Flames 4, Stars 3
In Dallas, Steve Begin, Matt Stajan and Roman Horak each scored their first goals of the season in the third period and Calgary overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Stars.
Begin snapped a 3-3 tie with 9:30 remaining. After Chris Butler’s slap shot from the left point was blocked in front, Begin outbattled two Stars defenders to get to the loose puck and fire a wrister that beat goaltender Richard Bachman.
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