Blackhawks win to stay perfect

The Chicago Blackhawks extended their winning start to the compressed NHL season to three games with a 3-2 win over the St Louis Blues.

The Central Division rivals both had 2-0 records going into the game but it was Chicago who prevailed, going up 3-0 before a late rally from the visitors.

Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Viktor Stalberg scored for the Blackhawks and goalie Corey Crawford made 32 saves but was beaten in the third quarter by Andy McDonald and TJ Oshie.

Divisional rivals the Nashville Predators won 3-1 against the Minnesota Wild in their first of seven successive away games. Dany Heatley, Martin Erat and David Legwand scored the goals.

The Detroit Red Wings prop up the division at this early stage after losing 2-1 to the Dallas Stars, Michael Ryder with both Dallas goals.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are setting the early pace in the South-East Division after a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Tom Pyatt and Cory Conacher scored in the first period and Keith Aulie and Ryan Malone in the third.

The Winnipeg Jets are just a point behind after picking up their first win of the season at the third attempt, bouncing back from Monday night's shootout loss to the Boston Bruins with a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals.

Tobias Enstrom had a hand in three of the Jets' goals as Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler and Jim Slater found the net.

The New Jersey Devils made it back-to-back wins with a 3-0 success against the Philadelphia Flyers, who have now started their season with three straight defeats.

The Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks all opened their season's win accounts.

Andrei Markov scored twice and Alex Galchenyuk scored his first Montreal goal in their 4-1 triumph over the Florida Panthers, while Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture netted twice apiece in the Sharks' 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1.