National Hockey League Game Capsules

Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Ville Leino scored in the ninth round of the shootout to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Leino used a heavy wrister to Cory Schneider and Nathan Lieuwen made a right pad save on Mike Sislo’s backhand for the win. Tyler Ennis scored twice while Lieuwen grabbed his first NHL win thanks to stopping 33 shots for the Sabres, who snapped a four-game slide. New Jersey’s shootout woes continue, as the team has dropped 15 straight shootouts, with 11 coming this season. The Devils gave up a big point, as the team is three points back of Columbus for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with just six games to play. Dainius Zubrus and Tuomo Ruutu scored for the Devils, who have lost three of four. Schneider had 25 saves.

Final Score: Toronto 3, Calgary 2

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) – Dave Bolland and David Clarkson scored 3 1/2 minutes apart in the third period to help the Toronto Maple Leafs halt an eight-game losing streak with a 3-2 decision over the Calgary Flames. Jay McClement also lit the lamp to support a 20-save effort from Jonathan Bernier in a much-needed result for the Maple Leafs. Not only did Toronto end its longest skid since the 2010-11 season, it gained a point on Columbus for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after the Blue Jackets lost in overtime to Colorado on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets own two games in hand on Toronto, however. Matt Stajan and Kris Russell accounted for Calgary’s goals, with Karri Ramo coming up with 20 saves in defeat.

Final Score: NY Islanders 4, Florida 2

Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist to help the New York Islanders top the Florida Panthers, 4-2, on Tuesday from Nassau Coliseum. Travis Hamonic, Matt Martin and Mike Halmo also scored for the Islanders, who trailed 1-0 before netting four straight goals. Colin McDonald had two assists in the win. Evgeni Nabokov turned away 20-of-22 shots for New York, which won its second straight game and fourth in the last five. Quinton Howden and Brandon Pirri scored for Florida, while Scott Clemmensen allowed all four goals on 40 shots.

Final Score: Carolina 4, Pittsburgh 1

Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Elias Lindholm scored twice in the second period, Anton Khudobin made 30 stops, and Carolina came away with a 4-1 decision over Pittsburgh at CONSOL Energy Center. Justin Faulk and Eric Staal also tallied, with Jeff Skinner and Andrei Loktionov adding two assists each for the Hurricanes, who have not lost in regulation over their last four games (2-0-2). Chris Kunitz provided the lone offense for the Penguins, who could have clinched the Metropolitan Division title outright with a victory. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed all four scores on 28 shots.

Final Score: Dallas 5, Washington 0

Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) – Kari Lehtonen had 35 saves in his fourth shutout of the season and the Dallas Stars beat the Washington Capitals 5-0 on Tuesday night. Dustin Jeffrey had two goals and Tyler Seguin, Ray Whitney and Ryan Garbutt also scored for the Stars, who have won five of their last six games as they make a push for their first postseason appearance in six seasons. Dallas entered Tuesday one point behind Phoenix for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Coyotes had a late game against Winnipeg. The Stars ran their winning streak against the Capitals to five games. Lehtonen had 12 saves in the first period, 10 in the second and 13 in the third for his 26th career shutout. Jaroslav Halak gave up three goals on 23 shots in just under 30 minutes before he was pulled Braden Holtby, who allowed two on 13 shots. The Capitals have lost four in a row. It was only the second time in their last nine games, though, that they didn’t earn a point (4-2-3). They remain just outside playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Final Score: Colorado 3, Columbus 2 (OT)

Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) – When in doubt, send the puck in front. The old adage paid off for the Avalanche twice in the third period and again in overtime as Gabriel Landeskog’s second goal of the game sent Colorado to a 3-2 comeback win over the playoff-hopeful Columbus Blue Jackets. Landeskog recorded the tying goal with 4:57 remaining in regulation and capitalized on Colorado’s only power play of the game when his pass intended for Nathan MacKinnon went off Columbus defenseman Nick Johnson and into the back of the net with 33 seconds showing. Brad Malone was credited with Colorado’s other goal, while Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for the Avs, who stand three points ahead of the Blackhawks for fourth place in the Western Conference with seven to play — one more than Chicago. Columbus, which still tenuously holds the second of two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference, picked up a much- needed point despite the collapse. Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves while Blake Comeau and Cam Atkinson scored for the Blue Jackets, who were coming off an overtime win over Carolina.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 1

Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Tyler Johnson’s shorthanded goal in the third period helped Tampa Bay clinch a playoff spot as the Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1. With the win, the Lightning secured a spot in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, and moved into the second spot in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. Montreal also has 93 points, but Tampa has a game in hand. Despite the loss, the Canadiens also clinched a spot for a second straight season as the Devils and Capitals both lost on Tuesday. Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn also scored while Ben Bishop made 25 stops for the Lightning, who have won three of their last four. Brendan Gallagher had the only goal of the game for the Canadiens, who had a five- game winning streak stopped. Carey Price allowed two goals on 32 shots.

Categorized in: NHL