Kings beaten as NHL returns

The Los Angeles Kings were beaten 5-2 by Chicago Blackhawks in their NHL opener on Saturday night.

The 2012/13 season finally got under way following the resolution of the trade dispute which accounted for the first three months of action.

But the champion Kings, the first team seeded eighth to win the Stanley Cup last year, were well off the pace as Marian Hossa scored twice and added an assist for the impressive Blackhawks.

Chicago also got goals from Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Michael Frolik, while Rob Scuderi and Jordan Nolan scored for the Kings.

There was better news for the team the Kings beat last June, the New Jersey Devils, who were 2-1 winners over the New York Islanders.

Travis Zajac and David Clarkson scored for the Devils, sandwiching Travis Hamonic's reply in the third period for the Islanders, who were without coach Jack Capuano for medical reasons.

New York's other team, the Rangers, also lost as they fell 3-1 to the Boston Bruins.

Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille and Johnny Boychuk scored for the Bruins, while Tuukka Rask produced 20 saves to ensure Tim Thomas - who is on a leave of absence - was not missed too much.

Brad Richards replied for the Rangers.

Goals from Tyler Kennedy, James Neal and Chris Kunitz, and a pair of assists from Paul Martin, lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Claude Giroux was on target for Philadelphia.

Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau scored with his first shot in the NHL as the Florida Panthers, who also got two goals from Bryan Campbell, beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1.

Vladimir Tarasenko also had a debut to remember with two goals for the St Louis Blues in their 6-0 demolition of the Detroit Red Wings.

Martin St Louis and Eric Brewer scored two goals each as the Tampa Bay Lightning saw off the Washington Capitals 6-3, while there was also a pair apiece for Daniel Winnik and Teemu Selanne in the Anaheim Ducks' 7-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Jaromir Jagr had two goals and an assist in the Dallas Stars' 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, while the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 with two goals from Dany Heatley.

The Ottawa Senators beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-1, the Toronto Maple Leafs were 2-1 winners over the Montreal Candiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets came away 3-2 victors against the Nashville Predators afer a shoot-out.