Lightning beat the Capitals 3-1 in home opener

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves, Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Conor Geekie scored in the first period and the Tampa Bay Lightning won their home opener with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Brandon Hagel had two assists for the Lightning, and Jake Guentzel scored into an empty net and had an assist. Tampa Bay opened play Thursday night in New York with a 5-1 loss to the Rangers.

Charlie Lindgren finished with 27 saves for Washington. Justin Sourdif scored for the Capitals.

D'Astous put Tampa Bay up 1-0 at 2:26 of the opening period as he cut down from the point into the middle slot to take a pass from Brandon Hagel and zipped a wrist shot past Lindgren.

The Lightning finished off the period with a goal from Geekie, who was off the right wing side to take a pass from Hagel for a quick shot to the inside of the post with 3:30 top go for a 2-0 lead.

The Capitals, who opened Friday with a win in Carolina, cut the deficit in half in the second period on a redirect from Sourdif off a point shot from Jacob Chychurn.

Guentzel scored with 2:05 left in the third.

Washington played the third period without defenseman Matt Roy, who suffered a lower-body injury and did not return.

Tampa Bay defenseman John Carlson, who spent 17 seasons with the Capitals, played his first career game against Washington, picking up an assist on the empty-net goal.

Capitals: Host Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Lightning: Host Philadelphia on Monday night.

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) laughs as linesman Dylan Blujus (57) separates him from the Tampa Bay Lightning bench area during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Washington Capitals center Justin Sourdif (34) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Conor Geekie (94) celebrates after his first period goal during an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jiri Kulich scored with 6:40 left and the Sabres overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in Buffalo’s home-opener on Saturday night.

For Kulich, the goal was his first in nearly a calendar year, and after the 22-year-old missed the final 70 games of last season due to blood clot issues. Rasmus Dahlin tied the game 6:10 into the third period, and Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson also scored for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 12 saves.

Oliver Moore, Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who dropped to 0-3 following road losses at Vegas and Utah. Spencer Knight stopped 24 shots. Chicago squandered a 2-0 first-period lead and a 3-2 lead entering the third.

Kulich’s goal came after he missed the net on a chance from in close. Thompson recovered the puck behind the net and fed Owen Power in the right circle. Power then set up Kulich to the left of the net, from where he beat Knight.

The Sabres have won seven straight over Chicago and are 10-0-1 since a 4-1 loss on Nov. 17, 2019.

Buffalo debuted a new banner to honor the team winning its first Atlantic Division title in a season the Sabres also snapped an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

The Blackhawks were without top defenseman Bowen Byram, who was dealing with a family matter. Byram spent the previous two-plus seasons in Buffalo before being acquired by Chicago in a June trade.

Earlier in the day, Patrick Kane revealed his choice of where to sign in free agency this offseason was between his hometown Sabres or returning to Chicago. Leaving Detroit after three years, Kane signed a two-year deal with Chicago, where he spent his first 16 seasons and won three Stanley Cups.

Blackhawks: Home-opener against St. Louis on Tuesday night.

Sabres: Host Minnesota on Tuesday night.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (6) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) battle for position during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi, center, celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) cover a puck in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game agaunst the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)