NHL Thursday: 15 teams open the season

• Coach fight! Roy breaks stanchion yelling at Boudreau

• 3 NHL general managers want fighting removed

Their loss has already turned out to be Washington’s gain.

Grabovski assisted on the game-tying goal in the third period and then scored the game-winner in the shootout, beating Flames goaltender Kari Ramo.

He did not take a shift over the final six minutes of the period and was not on the bench for the start of the second period.

Neal was questionable heading into the game after leaving practice early on Wednesday with what was called an “upper body injury.” He also did not take part in the morning skate on Thursday.