NHL pre-season roundup: Bruins edge Capitals, Islanders crush Rangers

Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates his goal during a shootout of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (Nick Wass/AP)

WASHINGTON -- Jake DeBrusk scored in regulation and the game-winning goal in the shootout to lift the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals in an exhibition season match Sunday.

Erik Haula also scored in regulation and the shootout for the Bruins, who had Jeremy Swayman and Troy Grosenick split time in goal. Swayman started and made 18 saves on 19 shots in the opening 30 minutes. Grosenick played the second half of the second period, all of the third and the overtime session, and made 11 saves.

Joe Snively and Martin Fehervary scored in regulation for Washington, and Daniel Sprong added the Capitals lone shootout strike.

Despite not allowing a goal in the third period and the overtime session, Vitek Vanecek was charged with the loss. Pheonix Copley started in goal for Washington and allowed two goals on 14 shots.

The exhibition season opener for both teams was not exactly a star-laden affair as the Bruins did not travel top liners Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, second line left wing Taylor Hall and defenseman Charlie McAvoy, while Washington scratched Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and John Carlson.

PANTHERS 5, PREDATORS 4 – PANTHERS 3, PREDATORS 1

Frank Vatrano recorded a hat trick in regulation and Sam Bennett's game-winning goal 46 seconds into overtime to lift the Florida Panthers over the Nashville Predators in a split-squad game.

Aleksi Heponiemi also tallied for the Panthers, who had Sam Montembeault and Evan Fitzpatrick split time in goal. Montembeault started and made 17 saves on 19 shots in the first two periods before being replaced by Fitzpatrick, who allowed two goals on 11 shots in the third.

Tanner Jeannot scored twice for Nashville in the loss, and Yakov Trenin and Rem Pitlick each added a goal.

Connor Ingram started in goal for Nashville and made 20 saves in the first two periods. Devin Cooley, who played in the third period and overtime, surrendered four goals on 15 shots.

In the second game, Spencer Knight stopped 29 of 30 shots to propel the Panthers to a 3-1 win over the Panthers.

Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe each scored a power play goal in the second period, and Brandon Montour added a third period even strength strike.

David Rittich allowed three goals on 30 shots for Nashville, whose lone goal was scored by Egor Afanasyev.

ISLANDERS 4, RANGERS 0

In New York, Ilya Sorokin and Jakub Skarek made 13 and 15 saves, respectively, for the Islanders in a combined shutout win over the Rangers.

Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Ross Johnston scored for the Islanders.

The first game of the Chris Drury-Gerard Gallant regime saw the Rangers lose off-season acquisition Barclay Goodrow 13:49 into the first period after he received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Kyle MacLean.

Presumptive No. 2 goaltender Alexandar Georgiev played the opening 30 minutes and allowed three goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Adam Huska, who stopped seven of eight shots.

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