National Hockey League Game Capsules

Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) – Adam Henrique scored twice, Cory Schneider stopped 17 shots and the New Jersey Devils downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Henrique registered the final marker of a three-goal flurry early in the first period and added a short-handed tally late in the second to help the Devils win for the second time in their last three games. Ryane Clowe and Jaromir Jagr recorded a goal apiece, while Patrik Elias picked up a pair of assists before adding an empty-netter late in the win. Artem Anisimov notched a goal and an assist, while Marian Gaborik, who hadn’t played since Dec. 21 due to a broken collarbone, also lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three straight games. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 34 shots in the setback.

Final Score: NY Islanders 5, Toronto 4 (OT)

Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Lubomir Visnovsky scored the winner 1:55 into overtime to lift the New York Islanders to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in a wild post-Olympic break opener for both teams. The Islanders had a 2-1 lead for more than 32 minutes of game time before the teams traded five goals in an 8 1/2-minute flurry in the third period. Anders Lee — in his first appearance this season for the Islanders — scored his second goal of the game with 2:40 left in regulation to tie it. Visnovsky got the winner after a failed Toronto clear ended up on his stick in the slot for a slap shot. Earlier, Michael Grabner scored two short-handed goals on the same penalty kill for the Islanders, who had gone into the Olympic break with two straight losses and on a 1-6-1 slide. The Islanders returned without leading scorer John Tavares, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering tears to the MCL and meniscus in his left knee while playing for Canada in Sochi. Evgeni Nabokov gave up four goals on 22 shots but got the win for New York. Phil Kessel, Paul Ranger, Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs, who lost for just the fourth time in their last 15 games. Kessel remained hot after leading the Olympic tournament with eight points for the United States, including five goals. He had the winner against Vancouver in Toronto’s last game before the break. Jonathan Bernier made 30 saves for Toronto.

Final Score: NY Rangers 2, Chicago 1

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Cam Talbot’s 31 saves helped the New York Rangers take a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game since the Olympic break for both clubs. Derick Brassard and Rick Nash scored for the Rangers, who had won five of six going into the break. Peter Regin scored late and Corey Crawford posted 22 saves for the Blackhawks, who have dropped their past two games.

Final Score: San Jose 7, Philadelphia 3

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Joe Pavelski recorded his second career hat trick to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the first game back from the Olympic Break for both teams. Raffi Torres added a pair of goals and Logan Couture also lit the lamp for the Sharks, winners in three straight. Alex Stalock made 27 saves in the win. Brayden Schenn, Andrej Meszaros and Matt Read scored one goal apiece for the Flyers, who had won four straight entering the break. Ray Emery allowed three goals on 14 shots and Steve Mason gave up four goals on 16 shots in the setback.

Final Score: Montreal 6, Pittsburgh 5 (SO)

Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – David Desharnais scored in the second round of the shootout to give the Montreal Canadiens a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Daniel Briere had two goals and an assist for the Canadiens, who snapped a five-game skid against the Penguins in the Steel City. Brendan Gallagher, Max Pacioretty and Alexei Emelin also lit the lamp. Peter Budaj stopped 27-of-32 shots in the victory. Olli Maatta, Brandon Sutter, Sidney Crosby and James Neal each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who played their first game since Feb. 7 due to the Olympic break. Deryk Engelland also scored. Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 24-of-29 shots for Pittsburgh, which fell to 23-4-2 at home this season.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 4, Detroit 2

Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Alex Killorn scored the winner with 3:11 to play as the Tampa Bay Lightning went into the Olympic break with a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Ondrej Palat had two goals while Tom Pyatt added a goal and an assist for the Lightning, who had dropped four of five coming in. Ben Bishop allowed two goals on 33 shots in the win. Daniel Alfredsson and Tomas Jurco each scored for the Red Wings, who had won their previous two coming in. Jimmy Howard stopped 24-of-27 shots in the defeat.

Final Score: Washington 5, Florida 4

Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Alex Ovechkin’s goal with 4:17 remaining snapped a tie game and lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers in the first outing for both teams following the Olympic break. Ovechkin added a pair of assists in addition to his game-winner, while Troy Brouwer netted two power-play goals to help the Capitals win three straight for the first time since Dec. 7-10. Brooks Laich also had a goal and two helpers, with Nicklas Backstrom scoring once and assisting on another to support a 30-save effort from Braden Holtby. Brad Boyes registered two goals in the loss, the Panthers’ sixth in seven contests, with Tomas Fleishmann and Jimmy Hayes also lighting the lamp. Tim Thomas finished with 27 saves.

Final Score: Nashville 3, Tampa Bay 2

Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Patric Hornqvist scored with 6:04 remaining and the Nashville Predators rallied past the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2, in the first game back from the Olympic break for both teams. Roman Josi and Matt Cullen both scored power-play goals in the second period for the Predators, who had lost three straight before the break. Carter Hutton stopped 14-of-16 shots in the victory. Martin St. Louis scored a pair of first- period goals for the Lightning, who saw Ben Bishop make 26 saves.

Final Score: Winnipeg 3, Phoenix 2 (SO)

Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) – Olli Jokinen scored in the fourth round of the shootout to send the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. After the first four shooters missed to open the shootout, Devin Setoguchi ripped a shot past Mike Smith’s blocker to put the Jets on top, but Antoine Vermette answered for Phoenix at the other end. Jokinen then flipped a wrister over Smith’s stick-side before Ondrej Pavelec poke-checked the puck away from Mike Ribeiro to lift the Jets to victory. Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler both lit the lamp in regulation, while Pavelec posted 34 saves prior to the shootout for Winnipeg, which has won four of its last six games. Martin Hanzal and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each scored for the Coyotes, who saw Smith stop 27 shots in dropping their second straight game.

Final Score: Dallas 4, Carolina 1

Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Jamie Benn posted a goal and two assists as the Dallas Stars took a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Cody Eakin, Brenden Dillon and Tyler Seguin also had goals, while Kari Lehtonen stopped 26 shots for the Stars, who had won three of four prior to the Olympic break. Eric Staal scored and Anton Khudobin stopped 30 shots for the Hurricanes, who have dropped three straight after losing to Buffalo on Tuesday in their first game back.

Final Score: Los Angeles 2, Calgary 0

Calgary, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – Jonathan Quick stopped 25 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Los Angeles Kings took a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Dustin Brown had a goal and an assist while Dwight King also scored for the Kings, who have won three straight. Joni Ortio gave up both goals on 24 shots in his NHL debut for the Flames, who had dropped two of three entering the Olympic break.

Final Score: Minnesota 3, Edmonton 0

Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves for his second shutout of the season in the Minnesota Wild’s 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. It was the first game back from the Olympic break for both teams. Mikael Granlund, Stephane Veilleux and Dany Heatley scored for the Wild, who have won three in a row. Ben Scrivens stopped 18-of-21 shots for the Oilers, who started a five-game homestand on Thursday.

Categorized in: NHL