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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - Ales Kotalik scored the only shootout goal the Sabres needed on Friday night, lifting Buffalo to a 2-1 win and spoiling the Montreal Canadiens' start to their 100th season.

Drew Stafford also scored in the shootout, while Thomas Vanek scored the lone goal in regulation in the Sabres' season-opener. Goalie Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots through overtime and didn't allow a goal on the two shots he faced in the shootout.

Miller got his pad out to foil Robert Lang's attempt to stuff a shot inside the right post. The game ended when Saku Koivu had the puck roll of his stick.

Lang scored the lone goal for Montreal.

Devils 2 Islanders 1

At Newark, N.J., Martin Brodeur stopped a penalty shot and finished with 25 saves and the Devils spoiled Scott Gordon's NHL coaching debut with a win over the New York Islanders.

Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored for the Devils to help Brodeur record his 539th career victory, 12 shy of the NHL mark held by Patrick Roy.

Doug Weight scored for the Islanders and Joey MacDonald made 27 saves in filling in for longtime starter Rick DiPietro, who had only played in one pre-season game while working his way back from surgery.

The only goal Brodeur gave up came on a deflection off a teammate.

'Canes 6 Panthers 4

At Raleigh, N.C., Joni Pitkanen and Dan LaCouture scored in their Carolina debut and the Hurricanes beat Florida in the season opener for both teams.

Rod Brind'Amour, Tuomu Ruutu and Ray Whitney scored, Matt Cullen added an empty-net goal

Rangers 4 Chihawks 2

At New York, Brandon Dubinsky scored once and added two assists, leading the Rangers to a win over vastly improved Chicago.

Newcomers Wade Redden, Aaron Voros and Nikolai Zherdev added goals for the Rangers, who got 30 saves from Henrik Lundqvist to improve to 3-0.

Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith answered for the Blackhawks, while free-agent addition Cristobal Huet made 25 saves in the loss.