National Hockey League Game Capsules

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – Joffrey Lupul scored the game-winner early in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Florida Panthers, 3-2, on Tuesday. Lupul scored twice in the game while Dion Phaneuf had the other goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won three of five and hold a three-point edge over New Jersey for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. Ben Scrivens stopped 40 shots in the win. Tomas Fleischmann and Shawn Matthias each scored for the Panthers, who went 2-3-0 on their five-game road trip and sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. Jacob Markstrom turned away 28 shots in the loss.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 1, Montreal 0

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Sidney Crosby scored the game’s only goal, Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun teamed up for a 37-save shutout and the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their win streak to 13 games with a hard-earned 1-0 verdict over the Montreal Canadiens at CONSOL Energy Center. Fleury turned aside all 25 shots he faced before exiting after two periods following a collision with teammate Tyler Kennedy, with Vokoun making 12 saves in relief to help enable the red-hot Penguins to record their second longest unbeaten stretch in franchise history, topped only by an NHL-record 17-game run during the 1992-93 season. Nine of those triumphs have come without the services of reigning Hart Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin, who remains sidelined with a shoulder injury. Carey Price took the hard-luck loss for Northeast Division co-leader Montreal, which dropped back-to-back outings in regulation for the first time all season. The Canadiens’ backstop stopped 24-of-25 chances on the evening.

Final Score: NY Islanders 3, Washington 2

Washington, DC (Sports Network) – In a battle between playoff hopefuls, it was the New York Islanders who picked up two vital points. John Tavares potted the game-winning goal in the late stages of the third period as the Islanders edged the Washington Capitals, 3-2, at Verizon Center. Evgeni Nabokov made 20 saves for New York, which overcame a blown two-goal first- period lead to win its second straight. The Islanders remained two points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference standings. Washington, meanwhile, is now four points out of a playoff spot. Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots for the Capitals, who were vying for a season- high fourth consecutive victory.

Final Score: Winnipeg 4, Carolina 1

Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) – Evander Kane registered a goal and three assists while Ondrej Pavelec posted 38 saves, as the Winnipeg Jets scored four unanswered goals in a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at PNC Arena. Olli Jokinen, Tobias Enstrom and Nik Antropov each scored once for the Jets, who have won two straight to extend their lead over the Hurricanes to six points atop the Southeast Division. Jiri Tlusty scored the lone Carolina goal, while Justin Peters allowed all four goals on 35 shots for the Hurricanes, who have lost six straight and find themselves three points back of the New York Rangers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Final Score: NY Rangers 5, Philadelphia 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Rick Nash scored two goals and added an assist, while Derek Stepan delivered a four-point night that propelled the New York Rangers to a 5-2 decision over the fading Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Nash’s 300th and 301st career goals helped Rangers head coach John Tortorella to register his 400th win behind the bench and enable the Blueshirts to halt a two-game slide. Stepan aided the cause by tallying once and assisting on three others, with Brad Richards contributing a goal and an assist to the victory. The Rangers also received a marker from Chris Kreider and a 32-save effort out of Henrik Lundqvist in besting the Flyers for the 11th time in the last 12 matchups between the Atlantic Division rivals. Jakub Voracek had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, losers of three in a row and 2-6-1 in its last nine contests. With Tampa Bay winning on Tuesday, the Flyers fell to 14th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. Wayne Simmonds also lit the lamp in the setback, with Claude Giroux assisting on both Flyers goals and Ilya Bryzgalov stopping 26-of-31 shots.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 2, Buffalo 1

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) – New Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper wasn’t present on the bench, but he is surely pleased with the Lightning’s defensive effort in a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Steven Stamkos and Martin St Louis each set up one another’s goals, helping Tampa Bay snap a three-game losing streak. Mathieu Garon needed to make only 13 saves to pick up his fourth win of the season and first against a team other than Carolina. The Lightning fired Guy Boucher Sunday morning and named Cooper, the head coach for Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse, his replacement Monday evening. Cooper, however, will not make his NHL coaching debut until Friday, when the Lightning host New Jersey. Assistants Dan Lacroix and Steve Thomas shared the coaching responsibilities Tuesday night. Ryan Miller stopped 21 shots for Buffalo, which had a three-game winning streak come to an end.

Final Score: Edmonton 3, St. Louis 0

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) – Nikolai Khabibulin posted 43 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Edmonton Oilers took a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Jordan Eberle had two goals and an assist, while Taylor Hall added a goal and two assists for the Oilers, who had dropped three straight and four of five coming into the game. Jake Allen allowed three goals on seven shots before being pulled early in the second period for the Blues, who have lost three of their last four. Jaroslav Halak stopped all 12 shots he faced in relief.

Final Score: Chicago 2, Calgary 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Ray Emery stopped 16 shots to notch his first shutout of the season, as the Chicago Blackhawks blanked the Calgary Flames, 2-0, Tuesday at United Center. Nick Leddy and Brent Seabrook each scored once while Patrick Kane assisted on both goals for the Blackhawks, who snapped a two-game skid. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 33-of-35 shots, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Flames from dropping their franchise-record 10th straight road test.

Final Score: Vancouver 1, Columbus 0 (SO)

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) – Maxim Lapierre was the only one to find the back of the net as his shootout goal lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. In a game where neither goaltender blinked, Lapierre finally got one through in the third round as he faked to the backhand and lifted the puck over Sergei Bobrovsky. Matt Calvert had the final chance for the Blue Jackets and tried to stick handle and get Cory Schneider to bite, but he lost control of the puck and Schneider easily turned it aside for the win. Schneider made 17 stops for his third shutout of the year and seventh of his career for the Canucks, who have won five straight to take a two-point lead over Minnesota for the top spot in the Northwest Division. Bobrovsky stopped 34 shots for his third career shutout for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped their past two games to fall a point out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Categorized in: NHL