National Hockey League Game Capsules

Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) – Simon Despres scored with 2:39 remaining in overtime and Pittsburgh rallied to post a 2-1 victory over New Jersey at Prudential Center. Holding the puck near the right-wing boards, Brandon Sutter passed to Kris Letang, whose own backhanded dish landed on the stick of Despres at the point. His harmless flip to the net beat a screened Cory Schneider to complete a comeback from one goal down late in regulation. Chris Kunitz registered a power-play goal with 3:11 remaining for the Penguins, who won for the second time in their last seven games. Marc-Andre Fleury needed to make only 13 saves. Steve Bernier tallied for the Devils, who had won two in a row. Schneider ended up with a season-high 41 saves in defeat.

Final Score: St. Louis 3, Carolina 2 (SO)

Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – Kevin Shattenkirk scored the winner in the shootout to lead the St. Louis Blues in a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Shattenkirk was the second shooter for the Blues and he buried a wrister past Cam Ward, while Jake Allen stopped Eric Staal’s wrister for the win. Allen made 26 saves, while David Backes and Ryan Reaves scored in regulation for the Blues, who have won four straight. Justin Faulk and Ryan Murphy lit the lamp for the Hurricanes, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Ward stopped the 29 shots he faced through overtime in relief of Anton Khudobin, who was pulled from the start after allowing two goals on three shots.

Final Score: Colorado 3, Nashville 0

Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) – Semyon Varlamov posted 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season to lead the Colorado Avalanche in a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday. Maxime Talbot, Gabriel Landeskog and Jarome Iginla scored for the Avalanche, who had lost three of four coming into the game. Colorado avenged a loss to Nashville in its last game on Tuesday. It wasn’t a home-and-home series because the Predators played in St. Louis on Thursday. Marek Mazanec made 25 saves for the Predators, who have dropped four of their last five.

Final Score: Vancouver 5, Buffalo 2

Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) – Ryan Miller faced his former team for the first time and his 20 saves helped the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Miller played against the team he won a Vezina Trophy with for the first time since being traded to St. Louis last February. He had a chance to play them late last season while with the Blues, but opted to sit out. His strong game saw his former team drop its 14th straight game, all in regulation, as the team is suffering through a franchise-record losing streak. Bo Horvat, Radim Vrbata, Chris Higgins, Nick Bonino and Yannick Weber all scored for the Canucks, who had lost two straight coming in. Chris Stewart had both the goals for the Sabres, who have also lost 14 straight games on the road. Matt Hackett allowed four goals on 37 shots in the loss.

Final Score: Chicago 4, Anaheim 1

Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Patrick Kane scored two goals and set up another in helping the visiting Chicago Blackhawks beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Friday night. Patrick Sharp had four assists, and Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks. Rickard Rakell’s power-play goal midway through the third period spoiled the shutout bid for Corey Crawford, who made 21 saves as Chicago notched its third straight victory at Honda Center. Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots for the Ducks, who have dropped two in a row following a six-game winning streak.

Categorized in: NHL