NHL roundup

NHL roundup

Thursday’s other games

Predators 4, Blue Jackets 3

NASHVILLE, TENN.

Craig Smith scored two goals in the third period, and Nashville held off Columbus in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break. Columbus coach John Tortorella left the team before the game, returning home for a personal matter that will cause him to miss All-Star weekend. His assistants filled in for him, but the Blue Jackets dropped to 5-7-0 since their 16-game winning streak. Brandon Saad (Mahoning Valley Phantoms) gave Columbus a 1-0 lead in the first period. Zach Werenski and Ryan Murray scored in the third as the Blue Jackets tried to rally. Calle Jarnkrok and Harry Zolnierczyk also scored for Nashville, and Mike Fisher had two assists. Columbus pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky late, but Pekka Rinne made save after save for Nashville.

Capitals 5, Devils 2

NEWARK, N.J.

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice, Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist and Washington beat New Jersey D to head into the All-Star break with the most points in the NHL. Andre Burakovsky and Lars Eller also scored for the Capitals, who have 72 points in 49 games as they seek their second straight President’s Trophy. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov added two assists and Braden Holtby made 27 saves for Washington, which is 13-1-2 in its last 16 games. Stefan Noesen and Adam Henrique scored for New Jersey, which has lost six straight at home. The Devils are tied with Detroit for the fewest points in the Eastern Conference.

Islanders 3, Canadiens 1

NEW YORK

Andrew Ladd scored twice as New York snapped a seven-game losing streak to Montreal. Josh Bailey also had a goal and Thomas Greiss stopped 21 shots as the Islanders beat the Canadiens for the first time since April 10, 2014. New York improved to 5-0-1 in its last six heading into this weekend’s All-Star break. John Tavares and Nick Leddy each had two assists. Shea Weber scored for the Canadiens and Carey Price finished with 39 saves. Price, set for his fifth All-Star appearance, fell to 2-5-1 in his last eight games. Ladd got the go-ahead goal to put the Islanders ahead 2-1 at 7:20 of the third when he took a pass from Tavares and fired it past Price from the right circle for his 10th of the season and second multi-goal game.

Kings 3, Hurricanes 0

RALEIGH, N.C.

Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis scored 38 seconds apart late in the third period, sending Los Angeles past skidding Carolina. Peter Budaj stopped 22 shots for the shutout, and Kyle Clifford scored into an empty net. Carolina lost its fifth consecutive game, all in regulation, and was shut out for the first time this season. The Kings won their second straight following a four-game slide that ended Tuesday with a 3-1 victory at New Jersey. Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward made 26 saves. Gaborik snapped the scoreless tie on a backhander from the low slot at 15:17 of the third. Drew Doughty had the primary assist, giving him a four-game point streak.

Flyers 2, Maple Leafs 1

PHILADELPHIA

Roman Lyubimov scored late in the third period to lift Philadelphia to its third straight win. Wayne Simmonds also scored to help the Flyers steady themselves after a rough month that rattled their playoff hopes. The Flyers jumped the Maple Leafs in points (56-55) and kept one of the final slots in sight headed into the All-Star break. William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs in their first road loss since Nov. 30 at Calgary. Michal Neuvirth stopped 27 shots for the Flyers and held off the extra skater in the final minute to give them a win they badly needed.

Panthers 2, Lightning 1

SUNRISE, FLA.

Jonathan Marchessault scored a power-play goal in overtime and Florida snapped a four-game losing streak. Marchessault took a pass from Keith Yandle along the goal line to the left of the net and fired the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy at 1:49 of the extra period. Jussi Jokinen also scored for the Panthers and James Reimer stopped 31 shots as Florida won for the first time in six games that went past regulation. Nikita Kucherov scored for Tampa Bay, and Vasilevskiy made 35 saves. The Lightning have lost four of five.

Jets 5, Blackhawks 3

CHICAGO

Andrew Copp and Bryan Little scored in a 32-second span in the third period, and Winnipeg beat Chicago for the fourth time this season. Little, Copp, rookie Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist, helping the Jets to their third win in their last nine games. Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves on the final night before the NHL All-Star break.

Associated Press