Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury: Makes 37 saves despite loss

“In with the “old’The Penguins made one lineup change for the Arizona game, replacing fourth-liner Bobby Farnham with Kevin Porter”.

“Before Arizona could celebrate to much, the Pens struck for their first foal of the season”.

Tobias Rieder also scored for the Coyotes, who have won their first two games for the first time since 2009-10.

Cody Eakin had two goals, and Mattias Janmark had his second tally in as many games for Dallas.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (0-1-0): Defenseman Kris Letang, who has struggled with injuries and health issues the last four seasons, posted eight shots on goal in the opener and appears to be ready to return to his All-Star caliber form. The Penguins won’t have it easy against the Coyotes, who knocked off the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 in their season opener Friday as goalie Mike Smith gobbled up 40 of 41 shots.

-Captain Sidney Crosby factored into five of the team’s six goals against Arizona last season.

“Right now it’s loose-puck battles and work ethic”, Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. “But I believe our guys know how to play against any of those types of players”. Antti Niemi stopped 22 of 28 shots after his 37-save shutout of Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

But for all their firepower, the Penguins fell flat in their opener, losing 3-0 at Dallas on Thursday.

Neither team scored in the opening period, although both had a few quality chances.

While he has frequently rejected the notion of momentum carrying over from season to season, Smith’s play so far in 2015-16 looks a lot like the form he displayed late past year – making the routine stops as well as the flashy saves.

Those came in rapid succession in the second period. The play started when Ian Cole inadvertently played the backwards into his own zone at the blue line and negated a delayed offside call on Arizona. The Coyotes possessed the puck and tried to move it out of their zone, but Kessel picked their pocket and carried the puck back up ice.

“I’m just trying to stay composed and stay calm and cool in there and just make saves at important times and do my job”, Smith said. “It’s not pretty, but that’s what we’ve got to do”.

“We can’t say enough good things about Smitty this year”.

Capitals 5, Devils 2: WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin scored a stunning go-ahead goal early in the third period, set up another and Washington opened the season with a victory over New Jersey.

He made one tough save after another, including several during a flurry midway through, the highlight his stretch to get Bonino’s shot with his pad.