NEW YORK (AP) -Chris Drury brought his winning ways to Broadway on opening night.
Drury’s first goal in a Rangers uniform snapped a third-period tie Thursday night and sparked a late scoring outburst that carried New York to a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.
Signed this summer after helping the Buffalo Sabres eliminate the Rangers in the second round of last season’s playoffs, Drury put in a rebound 8:46 into the third period to give New York a 3-2 lead and spark a spurt of three goals in a 4:16 span.
Petr Prucha, Ryan Callahan and Martin Straka also scored in the third period as the Rangers turned a 2-1 deficit into a rousing victory. Often-booed defenseman Marek Malik assisted on three of the final-period tallies, captain Jaromir Jagr set up two, as did Drury who had a helper on Straka’s goal with 6:58 left that made it 5-2.
Michal Rozsival gave the Rangers a 1-0 advantage just 37 seconds into the game.
Brett McLean and Nathan Horton scored second-period goals for the Panthers, who seemed to have the game in hand before the late meltdown.
Senators 3, Maple Leafs 2
OTTAWA (AP) – Daniel Alfredsson’s scored twice, including the game-winner on a power play with 4:59 remaining, to lift the Senators to a victory over the Maple Leafs.
Alfredsson put a wrist shot over Vesa Toskala’s right shoulder into the top left corner for his third goal of the season and helped Ottawa regain the lead after blowing a two-goal lead in the second.
Dany Heatley assisted on Alfredsson’s opening goal 8:18 into the game before he scored on a power play at 13:06 of the second to put Ottawa up 2-0.
Mats Sundin and Matt Stajan scored goals 32 seconds apart later in the period as Toronto tied it with 3:44 left.
Lightning 3, Devils 1
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Vincent Lecavalier scored twice, including a tiebreaking goal with 3:52 left in the third, spoiling Brent Sutter’s debut as Devils coach and leading the Lightning to a win.
Vinny Prospal set up Lecavalier’s second goal to make it 2-1 from the right circle with a backhand pass through the slot. Prospal added an empty-net goal with 58 seconds left.
Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist stopped 26 shots. Martin St. Louis had three assists.
Brian Gionta scored for the Devils and Martin Brodeur made 21 saves.
New Jersey is opening the season with a nine-game road trip, which will allow construction of the Devils new arena in Newark to be completed for the home opener Oct. 27 against Ottawa.
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