Gaborik leads Rangers by Caps

The New York Rangers are thrilled with offseason pickup Marian Gaborik's production so far: four goals in four games, all in the third period.

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau is furious about his team's defensive play, particularly in the third period.

Gaborik scored two goals about 21/2 minutes apart, Henrik Lundqvist held Alex Ovechkin without a point, and the Rangers came back to beat the host Capitals 4-3 on Thursday night in a rematch of their wild playoff series.

"It's why players like him are so special," New York's Chris Drury said about Gaborik. "They can change the game on one play -- and on one shot."

Washington led 3-2 in the third period after consecutive goals by Nicklas Backstrom, the first a soft goal allowed by Lundqvist on a dump-in from center ice and the second on a power play. But Gaborik tied at the 8:09 mark, then put New York ahead at 10:42.

"I owe him dinner," Lund qvist said.

Gaborik went to New York from the Minnesota Wild by signing a $37.5 million, five-year deal -- a bid by the Rangers to boost their offense, which tied for second-worst in the Eastern Conference last season.

Ryan Callahan and Ales Kotalik scored for the Rangers on consecutive shots midway through the second period.

Also Thursday

Devils 4, Lightning 3 (SO): Travis Zajac scored with 1 second left in regulation, and New Jersey Devils went on to a shootout victory over host Tampa Bay. Zajac forced overtime when he scored from the low slot to tie it at 3. Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner scored in the shootout, won by New Jersey and goalie Martin Brodeur 2-0.

Thrashers 4, Blues 2: Ilya Kovalchuk made it a pair of two-goal games to open the season, scoring the go-ahead goal in the first period and adding an empty-netter as Atlanta spoiled St. Louis home opener.

Keith Tkachuk had a goal and an assist and topped 400 points with the Blues.

Predators 3, Avalanche 2: Patric Hornqvist scored twice 2:17 apart in the third period, and host Nashville rallied to beat Colorado in its home opener.

Hornqvist's first two goals of the season came after officials ruled no goal for Nashville nearly midway through the third on a shot that was trickling toward the line when Jason Arnott's skate pushed it across.

The Avalanche started a seven-game trip, the franchise's longest since moving to Denver in 1995.

Senators 3, Islanders 2 (OT): Mike Fisher scored 32 seconds into overtime to give host Ottawa a victory.

Center John Tavares, 19, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, recorded his third point in two games with the Islanders.

Penguins 5, Flyers 4: Bill Guerin and Alex Goligoski scored midway through the second period to help visiting Pittsburgh end Philadelphia's chance of starting a season 4-0 for the first time since 1995-96.

Danny Briere and Jeff Carter each scored twice for Philly.

Ducks 6, Bruins 1: Teemu Selanne scored two goals 82 seconds apart in the second period, and Corey Perry had two goals and an assist to lead Anaheim over host Boston for its first victory of the season.

Tim Thomas, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, made 24 saves for Boston.

Sabres 2, Coyotes 1: Thomas Vanek snapped a late third-period tie, and Ryan Miller made 23 saves as host Buffalo beat Phoenix.

Vanek scored from the slot on the power play with 3:53 to go, one-timing Clarke MacArthur's pass from underneath the goal line.

Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2: Kris Draper and Johan Franzen scored 1:34 apart late in the second period to put host Detroit ahead of Chicago, and Chris Osgood made 31 saves in a rematch of Western Conference finalists. Detroit came from behind to win its home opener after blowing two two-goal leads in losses to St. Louis in Sweden.

LATE WEDNESDAY

Canucks 7, Canadiens 1: Henrik Sedin scored twice in a 3:37 span of the second period and had an assist to lead host Vancouver over Montreal for its first victory.

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