FLYERS 2  RANGERS 1

PHILADELPHIA — Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek scored to help the Philadelphia Flyers win their first game of the season, 2-1 over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

The Flyers not only avoided their first 0-4 start in team history, they beat the Rangers for the first time in two seasons. The Rangers defeated the Flyers all six games last season.

Taylor Pyatt scored his third of the season for New York.

Both teams are last in the Atlantic Division at 1-3.

The Rangers lost one night after earning their first win of the season, a 4-3 overtime victory at home against Boston.

CANADIENS 4 CAPITALS 1

WASHINGTON — Andrei Markov’s resurgence continued with a goal and an assist, and Montreal cruised past Washington, which is 0-3 for the first time in nearly two decades.

Finally healthy after twice tearing the ACL in his right knee, Markov was part of a second-period spree in which the Canadiens scored in all sorts of ways against a Capitals team that is out of sorts.

Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges scored for the Canadiens, and Carey Price made 30 saves.

The Capitals have been outscored 14-6 through three games, with seven of the opponents’ goals coming on power plays.

Joey Crabb’s goal with 2:23 to play was the lone goal for the Capitals, and two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin remains without a goal on the season.

HURRICANES 6 SABRES 3

RALEIGH, N.C. — Eric Staal scored three goals, Jeff Skinner added two and Carolina earned its first victory of the season by handing Buffalo its first loss.

Skinner and Staal scored 9 seconds apart during Carolina’s four-goal second period that also included a short-handed score by Justin Faulk.

Jordan Staal, Joni Pitkanen and Zac Dalpe each had two assists, and Cam Ward made 30 saves for the Hurricanes, who were one of five winless teams and had two total goals in their first two games.

Jason Pominville’s second goal made it 4-3 with 13:54 left. Eric Staal restored Carolina’s two-goal lead by firing the puck past Jhonas Enroth at 10:34.

He then polished off his 13th career hat trick with an empty-netter with 1:28 left.

Cody Hodgson also scored and Thomas Vanek had two assists for the Sabres.

SENATORS 3 PANTHERS 1

SUNRISE, Fla. — Erik Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and Ottawa won its third straight game to start the season, beating Florida.

Chris Phillips also scored for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson made 25 saves. Jason Spezza added an empty-net goal with 1:16 remaining.

Tomas Fleischmann scored and Jose Theodore stopped 34 shots for Florida. The defending Southeast Division champions fell to 1-3.

Ottawa has won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the teams.

Theodore stopped Guillaume Latendresse on a penalty shot with 9:11 left in the third period. Brian Campbell was called for hooking Latendresse as the Senators player skated in on goal.

BLUES 3 PREDATORS 0

ST. LOUIS — Patrik Berglund scored on a penalty shot and goalie Jaroslav Halak bounced back from a poor game to lead St. Louis over Nashville.

The Blues have won three of four this season, including a 4-3 shootout win at Nashville on Monday. Halak has two shutouts this season and 24 in his NHL career.

Vladimir Tarasenko and T.J. Oshie also scored for St. Louis, which has at least one point in 11 of 13 meetings with its Central Division rival.

The Predators lost for the first time in regulation this season. They began the campaign with shootout losses to Columbus and St. Louis.

Halak, who made 13 saves, was pulled three days earlier after allowing three goals on 11 shots in Nashville.