Devils Begin Defense by Tying Bruins, 3-3

Jeff Jillson scored twice in his Bruin debut, the second to tie the score with 3:58 left in regulation Wednesday night as Boston opened the season with a 3-3 tie against the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils at Boston.

“Every year, they’re up there and battling for the Stanley Cup,” said former King goalie Felix Potvin, who stopped 32 shots in his Boston debut. “I think we held our own against those guys.”

With many in the crowd following the playoff game between the Yankees and Red Sox in New York, the Bruins rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the second period only to fall behind on Scott Niedermayer’s second goal of the game.

But Jillson tied it when he faked out a defenseman in front of the left circle and wristed a shot past goaltender Martin Brodeur. Joe Thornton also scored for the Bruins.

“It’s been a long training camp,” Brodeur said. “But we’re all looking forward to the challenge of defending the Cup.”

Chicago 1, Minnesota 0 -- Jocelyn Thibault stopped 33 shots, and Tyler Arnason scored early in the second period at Chicago.

Thibault had eight shutouts last season, second best in the NHL. He shut out Buffalo, 3-0, in the Blackhawks’ home opener a year ago.

Minnesota’s Dwayne Roloson stopped 21 shots.