National Hockey League Game Capsules
Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – John Tavares recorded his fifth career hat trick and tied a career-high with five points, as the New York Islanders used their highest offensive output of the season to claim a 7-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes, but got a goal apiece from Peter Regin, Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson and Brian Strait, along with all three of Tavares’ tallies, to run away with their fourth win in five games. Evgeni Nabokov got the start in net for New York, but left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Kevin Poulin took over between the pipes and stopped 13 shots to pick up the victory. Jamie Benn, Valeri Nichushkin and Erik Cole each scored once for the Stars, who have given up 18 goals during their current three-game slide. Kari Lehtonen allowed all seven goals on 43 shots in the setback.
Final Score: Columbus 4, NY Rangers 3 (SO)
New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Mark Letestu scored the winner in the shootout as the Columbus Blue Jackets took a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers on Monday. Letestu buried a wrister past Henrik Lundqvist on Columbus’ first shot and Sergei Bobrovsky made a nice save on a backhand offering from Rick Nash. Ryan Johansen then sealed the win as he faked to the backhand and lifted it high over Lundqvist. Brandon Dubinsky and James Wisniewski both had a goal and an assist, while Cam Atkinson also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won two of three. Bobrovsky played for the first time since straining his groin on Dec. 3 against Tampa Bay. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, who had served as the backup the past two games, stopped 40 shots in the win. Nash had two goals while Brian Boyle scored the other for the Rangers, who had won three of four coming in. Lundqvist stopped 36 shots in the loss.
Final Score: Montreal 2, Florida 1
Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) – Brian Gionta scored the game-winner with 4:14 left in the second period, as the Montreal Canadiens held off the Florida Panthers, 2-1, on Monday at Bell Centre. David Desharnais netted Montreal’s other goal, while Carey Price turned aside 26 shots for the Canadiens, who improved to 2-0-2 over their last four games. Sean Bergenheim potted the Panthers’ lone goal, while Tim Thomas allowed both goals on 35 shots in the setback, Florida’s fifth in its last seven games. Aleksander Barkov, the second overall pick of the 2013 draft, assisted on Bergenheim’s goal to extend his point streak to six games, setting a Florida rookie record for consecutive games with a point.
Final Score: Calgary 4, Colorado 3
Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Cammalleri scored the winner on the power play with 3:30 to play as the Calgary Flames took a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Jiri Hudler and Joe Colborne each had a goal and an assist, while Sean Monahan scored the other goal for the Flames, who snapped a four-game losing streak and won for just the third time in their past 11 games. Karri Ramo stopped 22 shots in the win. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and Paul Stastny had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who had won three straight coming in. Jean-Sebastien Giguere allowed four goals on 19 shots in the loss.
Categorized in: NHL