National Hockey League Game Capsules
Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) – Jon Merrill’s first NHL goal was the game winner, coming with 2:26 left in overtime to give New Jersey a 2-1 win over Edmonton at Prudential Center. Michael Ryder set up the score, taking the puck away from a scrum along the right-wing boards then dishing between the circles for Merrill, who ripped a shot off the near pipe and in. Andrei Loktionov provided the other goal to back 19 saves from Cory Schneider for the Devils, who ended a two-game slide and improved to 2-0-2 in their last four outings. Taylor Hall tallied while Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 stops for the Oilers, who head to the Olympic break having lost for just the second time in their last seven.
Final Score: NY Rangers 4, Pittsburgh 3 (SO)
Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Benoit Pouliot scored a pair of goals and Brad Richards netted the deciding marker in the shootout, lifting the New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game for both teams prior to the Olympic break. Dan Girardi added a goal and an assist and Henrik Lundqvist came up with 26 saves to help the Rangers deal the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins to only their second loss in their last 18 tests at CONSOL Energy Center. New York, meanwhile, heads into the hiatus having notched wins in five of its last six outings. Pittsburgh fell despite a 38-save effort from Marc-Andre Fleury, but still managed to nab a point when James Neal scored with 2:56 left in regulation to forge a 3-3 tie. Neal and Olli Maatta each finished with a goal and an assist for the Penguins, with Evgeni Malkin accounting for Pittsburgh’s other score. The loss furthered dampened an already tough day for Pittsburgh, which revealed earlier Friday that standout defenseman Kris Letang suffered a mild stroke last week and will be out of action for a minimum of six additional weeks.
Final Score: Carolina 5, Florida 1
Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – Anton Khudobin stopped 34 shots as the Carolina Hurricanes took a 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Andrej Sekera, Jiri Tlusty, Riley Nash, Alexander Semin and Brett Bellemore all scored for the Hurricanes, who have won six of eight. Nick Bjugstad scored the only goal of the game for the Panthers, who go into the Olympic break having dropped five of six. Tim Thomas was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 14 shots. Scott Clemmensen stopped 16-of-17 shots in relief.
Final Score: Phoenix 2, Chicago 0
Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Smith stopped 30 shots for his second shutout of the season to lead the Phoenix Coyotes in a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Keith Yandle and Radim Vrbata each scored for the Coyotes, who went 3-2-0 on a five-game homestand. Corey Crawford gave up both goals on 26 shots for the Blackhawks, who had a two-game winning streak snapped to go into the Olympic break.
Final Score: San Jose 3, Columbus 2
San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Tommy Wingels scored the eventual game- winner in the third period as San Jose took a 3-2 win over Columbus in the final game before the Olympic break for both teams. Patrick Marleau and John McCarthy also scored, while Antti Niemi made 19 stops for the Sharks, who won three of four heading into the Olympic break. Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist and Boone Jenner also scored for the Blue Jackets, who dropped their final two games before the break. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 43 shots in the loss.
Categorized in: NHL