CHICAGO – The Chicago Blackhawks watched as their championship banner rose to the rafters at the United Center. They took another look at the Stanley Cup, and soaked in the applause from the sellout crowd.

Then Johnny Oduya and Co. went out and reminded the rest of the NHL how they won that title.

Oduya, Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa scored in the third period, and the Blackhawks kicked off their title defense with a 6-4 victory over Mikhail Grabovski and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

“We wanted a good start. I think we got that,” Oduya said. “Maybe in the second we came down a little bit, the win is the key thing to that, and to keep building on that. There’s a lot of games this year, so we’ve got to stay strong and get better.”

Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Brandon Bollig also scored for Chicago, which won its first game for the second straight season. Corey Crawford made 28 saves, including a couple of huge stops when the Blackhawks killed off a late 5-on-3 power play.

Chicago ruined Los Angeles’ title celebration with a 5-2 victory in last season’s opener and then set an NHL record by recording at least one point in its first 24 games. The fast start played a key role in the Blackhawks’ run to the Stanley Cup, and coach Joel Quenneville made it clear in training camp that another opening surge is a priority.

“The guys have always been in a good place since Day 1 of the season,” Quenneville said. “You’ve got to commend them on how they prepared themselves.”

Grabovski had three goals and an assist in his first game since he signed with Washington in August. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, but the Capitals dropped their opener for the second straight season.

“They got a little bit lucky today,” Grabovski said. “We need to learn from our mistakes what we did. We just need to play better the next game.”

Grabovski had consecutive power-play goals in the third, lifting Washington to a 3-2 lead with 14:44 left. But Saad finished a beautiful give-and-go with Michal Handzus, and Oduya converted a long slap shot at 13:53 to put the Blackhawks ahead to stay.

Oduya caught a fortunate break on his 32nd birthday when his fluttering shot went in off the glove of goalie Braden Holtby on its way to the net.

“It just completely fooled me,” Holtby said. “I had a clean look at the shot, it was just one of those sinkers. It happened. It was one I would love to have, but I think there are a couple of others in the game that I should have done a better job on, more than that one.”

Hossa finished the scoring when he was dragged down from behind as he skated toward an empty net in the final minute, prompting the officials to award him with an insurance goal.

Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 3

In Montreal, Tyler Bozak scored a short-handed goal and Mason Raymond netted the winner in his first game with the Maple Leafs as Toronto spoiled Montreal’s home opener.

James van Riemsdyk and Dion Phaneuf also scored in a fight-filled game in which the Canadiens’ new enforcer George Parros was carried off on a stretcher following a bout. Toronto’s Colton Orr pulled Parros down during the fight, and the Montreal forward’s face crashed into the ice.

Lars Eller’s second goal of the game with 2:22 left brought the Canadiens within 4-3 but they couldn’t get even. Eller also set up a goal by Brendan Gallagher on the first night of the NHL regular season.

The mood turned somber 2:34 into the third period when Parros was prone on the ice. Orr had fallen and pulled down Parros, who was bleeding and looked woozy. A team of trainers from both teams spent several minutes treating him.

The Canadiens said Parros sustained a concussion, but was alert and conscious and undergoing more tests.

Jets 5, Oilers 4

In Edmonton, Michael Frolik scored a pair of goals, and the Jets rallied to spoil the Oilers’ home opener.

With 5:02 left, Eric Tangradi sent a beautiful backhand pass in front to Frolik, who snapped a 4-4 tie by directing his second goal of the night into the net before goalie Devan Dubnyk could get back across the crease.