Philipp Kurashev is the first goal scorer in the new NHL season. The Bern native scored in the Chicago Blackhawks' surprising 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Kurashev opened the scoring 16 minutes into the first period, paving the way for his team to victory against the highly rated Oilers with stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Ten minutes before the end, the German reduced the deficit to 2:4 after the Canadian had worked in overtime and brought some tension back into the game. But it was merely cosmetic. In Edmonton, they experienced their second disappointment in their home arena after the 6-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Bedard played a big part in the Blackhawks' unexpected victory. Like Kurashev, the 19-year-old Canadian prodigy, who was drafted No. 1 in last year's draft, scored his first goal of the season and also made two crucial saves. The Finn scored two goals and set up two others.
Swiss Devils win
The New Jersey Devils recorded their third win in their fourth game of the current championship. The team with Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler defeated the Washington Capitals 5-3 on the road. The Devils responded immediately to their home loss two days earlier against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a win in the capital.
Meier, goal scorer in the two previous games, and Hischier each provided one pass. The Appenzell native set up the 1:1 equalizer by American rookie Seamus Casey in the first period, the Valais native the last goal, which the Canadian Dawson Mercer scored into the empty net eight seconds before the final buzzer.
Three of their teammates scored more points than the two Swiss players. The American Paul Cotter, also a newcomer, scored his third and fourth goals of the championship, his compatriot Stefan Noesen, who returned to the Devils after five years, had three assists, as did the Finn Erik Haula.
Roman Josi, on the other hand, was beaten again by Nashville. The Predators also lost their second game with a 3-0 defeat at the Detroit Red Wings.
