Blackhawks overcome Capitals in thrilling 6-4 NHL victory

The Blackhawks scored three unanswered third-period goals to open the defence of their Stanley Cup crown with thrilling 6-4 comeback victory over the Washington Capitals in Chicago.

In other opening night action, the Toronto Maple Leafs held on to edge the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in an Original Six match-up, while the Winnipeg Jets had a flying start by rallying to beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4.

The Blackhawks kicked off the National Hockey League season by celebrating last year's championship, raising the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at a rocking United Centre, then set to work on collecting a third title in five years.

The crowd was on their feet again in the third period as Chicago staged a furious rally, scoring three times in the final 12 minutes to stun the visitors.

Trailing 4-3, Brandon Saad tied the game, while Johnny Oduya celebrated his 32nd birthday by notching the winner and Marian Hossa added an insurance marker with 38 seconds left.

Brandon Bollig, Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook found the back of the net for the Blackhawks, while Mikhail Grabovski bagged a hat-trick and picked up an assist, and was unlucky to finish on the losing team in his first game as a Capital. Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's most valuable player, scored the other Capital goal.

"If anything, our turnovers gave them momentum, gave them life and they're a really good hockey team," Capitals coach Adam Oates said.

"It's hard to play that way. You don't want to trade chances, trade opportunities with them. That's more their style, not ours. We're more about territory."

In Montreal, James van Riemsdyk's powerplay goal gave Toronto a 1-0 lead before Lars Eller and Brendan Gallagher responded for the Canadiens to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Maple Leafs regained control in the second with an even-strength goal from captain Dion Phaneuf and short-handed one from Tyler Bozak.

Mason Raymond, in his first game for Toronto, put the Maple Leafs 4-2 ahead early in the third before Eller, with his second of the night, closed out the scoring.

"I thought our special teams were the difference," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "The short-handed goal turned everything in our favour and the powerplay got us going."

One of the NHL's most bitter rivalries turned nasty when Canadiens enforcer George Parros was taken out on a stretcher after banging his head on the ice during a third-period fight with Toronto tough guy Colton Orr.

The Canadiens later said Parros had a concussion, but was alert and conscious in a Montreal hospital.