The winless Canucks (0-2-1), off to their worst start since 1976, have allowed 14 goals and scored just five in three games this season, four on power plays. Their last goals against Detroit Tuesday night came in the final 4:45 of the game, after the Red Wings had built a 6-1 lead.
The Canucks got goals from Sergio Momesso, Pavel Bure and Greg Adams, his 500th NHL point. For Sheppard, it was his sixth hat trick.
Islanders 4, Flyers 3. In Uniondale, New York, Pierre Turgeon had a goal and an assist as the Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in a game featuring the first professional meeting of the Lindros brothers.
The much anticipated meeting took place halfway through the first period when younger brother Brett threw a solid bodycheck on Eric. Eric, however, got the better of the two in the statistical battle, scoring two goals to none for his younger brother. Brett Lindros was the Islanders' first pick at the entry draft last summer. Brent Fedyk had the other goal for the Flyers, whose 0-3-0 start is their worst since 1989.
Islanders goaltender Jamie McLennan improved his record to 2-0-1 and saved the win with a dazzling low glove save on Rod Brind'Amour with 68 seconds left. He stopped 19 shots overall.
Nordiques 5, Capitals 1. In Quebec, Owen Nolan, sidelined by a shoulder injury for all but six games last season, scored two goals as the Nordiques beat the Washington Capitals 5-1 in their home opener.
With three goals in the first two games of this abbreviated NHL season, Nolan has already surpassed the two goals he notched last year.
Nordiques captain Joe Sakic scored a goal and assisted on another, giving him four points in Quebec's first two games.
Andrei Kovalenko and Martin Rucinsky scored the other goals for the Nordiques. Dale Hunter had a second-period goal for Washington.
Stars 4, Kings 2. In Inglewood, California, Jarrko Varvio scored in the second period and set up the tie-breaking goal by Trent Klatt early in the third as the Dallas Stars spoiled goaltender Jamie Storr's NHL debut with a 4-2 decision over the Kings.
The victory was the Stars' first in this lockout-abbreviated 48-game schedule, and left Los Angeles at 0-2-1.
Rick Tocchet and Tony Granato scored for the Kings, who have opened a season with a three-game winless streak for the first time since 1985-86.
Flames 6, Blues 4. In Calgary, Alberta, Joe Nieuwendyk scored one goal and assisted on two others as the Flames beat the St. Louis Blues 6-4.
Defenseman Al MacInnis, traded by Calgary to St. Louis over the summer, scored his first goal as a Blue with a blistering shot off the faceoff in the third period. Joel Otto, German Titov, Robert Reichel, Ron Stern and Wes Waltz also scored for the Flames, 2-0-1 in their first three games.
Esa Tikkanen, Bill Houlder and Adam Creighton scored power-play goals for the Blues.
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