Brodeur delivers as Devils top Islanders

Martin Brodeur stopped a penalty shot and finished with 25 saves and the Devils spoiled the NHL coaching debut of former Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon with a 2-1 victory over the Islanders last night in Newark, N.J.

Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored for the Devils to help Brodeur record his 539th career victory, 12 shy of the NHL mark held by Patrick Roy.

Doug Weight scored for the Islanders and Joey MacDonald made 27 saves in filling in for longtime starter Rick DiPietro, who had only played in one exhibition game while working his way back from surgery.

The only goal Brodeur gave up came on a deflection off a teammate. Other than that he was perfect, although he got help when Richard Park had shots in the first and second period hit off goalposts.

Brodeur's best save came late in the first period on a penalty shot by Kyle Okposo. The young forward stumbled slightly after skating into the Devils' zone, but he got off a rising shot to the top corner of the net that Brodeur deflected away with his glove.

Sabres 2, Canadiens 1 - Ales Kotalik scored the only shootout goal host Buffalo needed in spoiling Montreal's start to its 100th season.

Drew Stafford also scored in the shootout, while Thomas Vanek scored in regulation in the Sabres' season-opener. Goalie Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots through overtime and didn't allow a goal on the two shots he faced in the shootout.

Thrashers 7, Capitals 4 - Bryan Little had two goals, including the go-ahead score in the third period, and Atlanta beat visiting Washington.

Capitals goalie Jose Theodore didn't make it through the second period of his debut with the team, giving up four goals before he was pulled.

Blues 5, Predators 2 - Keith Tkachuk scored two of St. Louis's four power-play goals in the victory over visiting Nashville.

Brad Boyes and David Backes also scored with the man advantage, Barrett Jackman had an even-strength goal, and the Blues won their first season opener since 1996.

Rangers 4, Blackhawks 2 - Brandon Dubinsky scored once and added two assists, and newcomers Wade Redden, Aaron Voros, and Nikolai Zherdev also chipped in with goals, leading host New York.

Blue Jackets 5, Stars 4 - Rick Nash took a pass from Jason Chimera and scored from the slot with 20 seconds left in overtime to give visiting Columbus a victory over Dallas.

Hurricanes 6, Panthers 4 - Joni Pitkanen and Natick's Dan LaCouture scored in their Carolina debuts and the Hurricanes beat Florida in Raleigh, N.C.