National Hockey League Game Capsules

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – Rick Nash scored the deciding goal 7:25 into the second period, and Henrik Lundqvist made the lead stand as the New York Rangers posted a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils in a key Atlantic Division clash from the Prudential Center. Michael Del Zotto assisted on Nash’s game-winner while delivering a short-handed goal earlier on for New York, with Lundqvist coming up with 29 saves to help the Rangers win for a second straight night following a three- game skid. Carl Hagelin also scored for New York, which moved into a tie with the struggling Devils for the eighth and final playoff spot. Travis Zajac and Anton Volchenkov had the goals for New Jersey, with Johan Hedberg stopping 19-of-22 shots in the Devils’ third consecutive setback.

Final Score: Ottawa 5, NY Islanders 3

Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) – Sergei Gonchar netted the deciding goal late in regulation, sending Ottawa past the New York Islanders, 5-3, at Nassau Coliseum. Jakob Silfverberg, Zack Smith and Guillaume Latendresse also scored in the final 20 minutes for the Senators, who have won three in a row and four of six thanks to scoring four times in the third period. Matt Kassian tallied in the first, while Ben Bishop made 26 saves. Josh Bailey, Keith Aucoin and Lubomir Visnovsky provided offense for the Islanders, who lost for the third time in their last eight. Evgeni Nabokov stopped just 18 shots in defeat.

Final Score: Florida 4, Carolina 1

Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) – Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves and the Florida Panthers scored all of their goals in the third period to escape PNC Arena with a surprising 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Tomas Fleischmann, Marcel Goc and Shawn Matthias each scored in the final 12:21 to help the league-worst Panthers snap a six-game slide, with Jerred Smithson adding an empty-net goal in the win. Dan Ellis’ 40 saves went for naught as the Hurricanes went 0-for-3 on the power play en route to a season-high fourth straight loss.

Final Score: Columbus 4, Nashville 3

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) – Mark Letestu registered a goal and an assist on Tuesday to help the Columbus Blue Jackets continue their longest point streak in team history with a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena. Nikita Nikitin, Derick Brassard and Fedor Tyutin each scored once for the Blue Jackets, who have registered at least one point in a franchise-record 11 consecutive games (7-0-4). Sergei Bobrovsky posted 32 saves to improve to 7-0-2 in his last nine games. Mike Fisher, Chris Mueller and Gabriel Bourque netted a goal apiece for the Preds, who have lost four in a row. Pekka Rinne allowed all four goals on 31 shots in the setback.

Final Score: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2 (OT)

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) – Steve Ott netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner 2:44 into overtime, as the Buffalo Sabres came through with a 3-2 triumph over Montreal to end the Canadiens’ five-game win streak. Tyler Ennis also scored and Jhonas Enroth turned in a solid 32-save performance to help the cellar-dwelling Sabres top their Northeast Division rivals and prevail for only the second time in their last eight outings. Ville Leino contributed a pair of assists to the victory. Though Montreal failed in its attempt to win six in a row for the first time since March 6-16, 2010, it still managed a point after Max Pacioretty and Colby Armstrong each had third- period tallies to rally the Habs back from a 2-0 deficit. Carey Price finished with 18 saves for the Canadiens.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 2, Washington 1

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Matt Niskanen netted the winning goal in the third period, as the Pittsburgh Penguins won their 10th straight game with a 2-1 decision over Washington at CONSOL Energy Center. Paul Martin also scored, Sidney Crosby assisted on both tallies and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 shots for the Penguins, who continued their perfect March slate despite the absences of Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Alex Ovechkin lit the lamp for the Capitals, who have dropped five of their last seven. Braden Holtby made 34 saves in the loss.

Final Score: Winnipeg 3, Boston 1

Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) – Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane scored in a 57- second span late in the third period, helping Winnipeg overcome Boston by a 3-1 count at MTS Centre. Wheeler added an empty-net score and Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves for the Jets, who have won six of their last eight games and moved two points ahead of Carolina for the Southeast Division lead. Brad Marchand tallied and Tuukka Rask stopped 22 shots for the Bruins, who have lost two in a row and three of five.

Final Score: Vancouver 3, St. Louis 2

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) – Dale Weise’s second-period tally proved to be the difference, as the Vancouver Canucks held off the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, on Tuesday at Rogers Arena. Daniel Sedin registered a goal and an assist, while Jannik Hansen also lit the lamp as part of a three-goal second stanza that helped the Canucks put the brakes on a two-game skid. Cory Schneider stopped 32 shots in the victory. Jaden Schwartz and Patrik Berglund each scored once in the third, but St. Louis winger Vladimir Sobotka was whistled for boarding with just over three minutes left in regulation to handcuff the Blues’ comeback bid. Jake Allen allowed all three goals on 19 shots for the Blues, who had won three straight and five of their last six coming in.

Final Score: Los Angeles 3, Phoenix 2

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Jonathan Bernier made a career-high 40 saves and the Los Angeles Kings topped the Phoenix Coyotes for the second straight night at Staples Center, this time by a 3-2 final. The Coyotes had been shut out in the first three games of their four-game road trip, but Shane Doan ended the drought late in the third period to pull Phoenix within a goal. The Kings quickly answered with a power-play tally by Jarret Stoll that wound up being the game-winner after Doan scored again in the final minute. Dustin Penner and Drew Doughty also scored for Los Angeles, which has won three straight, including a 4-0 win on Monday against its Pacific Division rival. Mike Smith made 26 saves in Phoenix’s fifth straight road loss.

Categorized in: NHL