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Crawford leads Chicago to 1st win, 3-1 over Oilers

AP Photo CHICAGO’S BRANDON SAAD (20) scores behind Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning (83) as Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) defends during the third period Monday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Corey Crawford and the Chicago Blackhawks stayed focused and tightened their play against a tough opponent to earn their first win of the season.

Crawford stopped 27 shots, Patrick Kane and Alexander Nylander scored, and the Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 Monday night. Brandon Saad added an empty-netter with 32.7 seconds left to seal the win for Chicago, which went 0-2-1 in its first three games.

Crawford lost a bid for his 26th career shutout when James Neal scored his NHL-leading eighth goal on a power-play with 2:11 remaining.

“I think we were doing everything good tonight,” Crawford said. “We didn’t give up a whole lot, cleared the front of the net, and I was able to see pretty much everything. … I think everyone was going. Guys were coming back to help out defensively. Nice to win the first one.”

Crawford came through with big saves, and thwarted Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — who entered as the NHL’s top two scorers — on several prime chances. McDavid, who has 12 points, was kept off the scoresheet for the first time this season. Draisaitl earned an assist on Neal’s goal.

Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton was impressed by his veteran goalie’s play.

“He looked as sharp as ever,” Colliton said. “He’s really good. That team has some weapons and he was there.”

Colliton was almost has happy with the skaters in front of Crawford. The Blackhawks earned a badly needed win in the third game of an early seven-game homestand as they skated before an announced crowd of 21,260 that was their 500th straight sellout at the United Center.

“Pretty pleased with the effort — almost 60,” Colliton said. “Really pleased with how we knuckled down and did some of the things we’ve been talking about.”

Mike Smith finished with 32 saves for Edmonton, which had opened the season with five wins.

ISLANDERS 3, BLUES 2 (OT)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Devon Toews scored at 1:13 of overtime to complete a stunning late-game comeback by the New York Islanders. Islanders scored twice in the third, tying the game with less than 30 seconds to play.

BRUINS 4, DUCKS 2

BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak scored a career-high four goals.

PANTHERS 6, DEVILS 4

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Mackenzie Weegar scored the tying goal and set up Noel Acciari for the go-ahead tally and Florida rallied from a three-goal deficit.

WILD 2, SENATORS 0

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Alex Stalock stopped all 26 shots he faced and Minnesota picked up its first win.

SABRES 4, STARS 0

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Rookie forward Victor Olofsson set an NHL record by becoming the first player to score his first seven career goals on the power play, Carter Hutton made 25 saves to earn his first shutout of the season.

AVALANCHE 6, CAPITALS 3

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and two assists to help the Colorado improve to 5-0-0.

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