N H L - National Hockey League

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Penguins roll past Red Wings

 

Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino each has career-high five points, Pittsburgh wins for seventh time in eight games

 

by Paul Harris / NHL.com Correspondent

5:14 AM

Kessel scores with wicked wrister PIT@DET: Kessel beats Mrazek from tough angle

3/26/16: Phil Kessel skates in to the zone and fires a wrist shot off the post and past Petr Mrazek from a tough angle for a 4-1 lead

DETROIT -- Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino each had an NHL career-high five points to help the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday.

The Penguins, third in the Metropolitan Division, increased their lead over the fourth-place New York Islanders (who visited the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday) to three points. Pittsburgh trails the second-place New York Rangers (who visited the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday) by two points. The Red Wings, fourth in the Atlantic Division, remained one point behind the third-place Boston Bruins and tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Bruins and Flyers each played Saturday.

"We knew this was a key game, and we played like it," said Penguins forward Carl Hagelin, who scored two goals. "The Red Wings have been getting closer in the race, so it was big to get two points and keep them to none."

Kessel and Bonino each had a goal and four assists. Bonino was a game-time decision because of an upper-body injury and had 16 points in 54 games coming into the game.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-detroit-red-wings-game-recap/c-279912022?tid=279843212

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Rookies rally Sabres to win against Jets

 

Reinhart scores tying goal, sets up Eichel for winner; Fasching nets first in NHL

 

by Joe Yerdon / NHL.com Correspondent

3:44 AM

Eichel snipes it past Hutchinson WPG@BUF: Eichel beats Hutchinson for the lead

3/26/16: Jack Eichel fires a wrist shot from the slot past Michael Hutchinson, giving the Sabres a 3-2 lead in the 3rd

 

BUFFALO -- The youth movement for the Buffalo Sabres was more than apparent Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist, Jack Eichel had the game-winner, and Hudson Fasching scored his first NHL goal to help the Sabres to a 3-2 win against the Jets at First Niagara Center.

Reinhart tied the game 2-2 with his 21st goal 1:23 into the third period and then set up Eichel at 4:07.

"I tried to use my shot to my ability there," said Eichel, who scored his 23rd of the season. "Sam makes a great play in the neutral zone, causes a turnover, and hits me with a lot of speed. I just tried to put on one net and it's nice to get rewarded."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-buffalo-sabres-game-recap/c-279908170?tid=279843210

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Ladd leads Blackhawks past Flames

 

Chicago forward gets two goals, assist in win at Calgary

 

by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Correspondent

12:42 PM

Ladd's goal off turnover CHI@CGY: Ladd steals puck, scores 21st goal of season

3/26/16: Andrew Ladd picks off a pass in the Flames' zone and lights the lamp with a wrist shot, opening the scoring in the 2nd period

CALGARY -- Andrew Ladd had two goals and an assist, and Scott Darling made 31 saves to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen scored for the Blackhawks (43-25-7), who won for the second time in their previous eight games (2-4-2). Chicago trails the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues by six points for first in the Central Division, and is two points ahead of the Nashville Predators for third.

Dougie Hamilton scored, and Joni Ortio made 25 saves for the Flames (31-38-6), who have lost three in a row.

Shaw put Chicago up 2-1 with 49 seconds remaining in the second period, deflecting Michal Rozsival's shot from the point over Ortio to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games. The goal came after he took minor penalties for roughing and slashing 2:20 apart.

Darling made 11 third period saves, including back-to-back stops on Brandon Bollig's slap shot from the point and TJ Brodie with just over seven minutes remaining.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/andrew-ladd-leads-chicago-blackhawks-past-calgary-flames/c-279936722?tid=279843982

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Kings' big line is too much for Oilers

 

Lucic-Carter-Toffoli trio combine for four goals, 10 points

 

by Curtis Zupke / NHL.com Correspondent

12:56 PM

Toffoli opens scoring early EDM@LAK: Toffoli nets rebound 16 seconds into game

3/26/16: Tyler Toffoli snaps the puck past the glove of Laurent Brossoit to give the Kings a 1-0 lead 16 seconds into the game

 

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings have emphasized getting back to their championship form for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They didn't exactly play Kings' hockey on Saturday, but they did end a three-game losing streak whenTyler Toffoli had two goals and two assists,Jeff Carter scored twice and Milan Lucic contributed three assists in a 6-4 victory against the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center.

 

The line of Toffoli, Carter and Lucic combined for four goals and 10 points. The Kings (45-25-5) nearly squandered a 5-2 lead in the third period but remained three points ahead of the second-place Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has played one more game; the Kings play at the San Jose Sharks on Monday, the same night the Oilers host the Ducks.

"We want to get our game [at] 100 percent going into the playoffs, and playing the right way," Toffoli said. "It's a good sign when we're scoring big goals, but at the same time, we've got to tighten it up a little bit."

Patrick Maroon 's second goal with 3:10 remaining was set up by Connor McDavid and pulled Edmonton to 5-4, but the Oilers (30-41-7) couldn't force overtime, and Carter scored into an empty net with 32 seconds left.

The six goals equaled the Kings' total in the previous four games combined. Lucic matched a career-high in assists and Carter reached 20 goals for the ninth straight season.

"Jeff Carter's line was as good as those three guys have been all year," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "They were outstanding."

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick made 29 saves for his 38th win, one short of his single-season high, set in 2009-10. He is 19-1-5 in his career against Edmonton. Quick made a highlight left-skate save on Maroon early in the second period when the game was tied 2-2.

"I thought I scored there," Maroon said. "He made a hell of a save on the toe cap. Unfortunately, that could have made it a 3-[2] game. It could have changed the momentum, maybe. But I thought they played all in our zone in the second period. We had no momentum."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-defeat-edmonton-oilers/c-279937158?tid=279843446

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Smith makes 34 saves, Coyotes defeat Flyers

 

Philadelphia's Giroux, Arizona's Doan injured in third period

 

by Jerry Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

12:48 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Smith made 34 saves to help the Arizona Coyotes to a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

Shane Doan and Michael Stone scored second-period goals for Arizona, but neither player finished a very physical game.

Doan was injured when Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas hit him into the boards in the third period. Doan staggered afterward, needed assistance to the bench, and went to the locker room shortly after leaving the ice with 13:53 remaining.

Stone got his left leg twisted up with Flyers forward Michael Raffl with 8:37 left and had to be helped from the ice.

Sean Couturier scored in the final minute for the Flyers.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/arizona-coyotes-defeat-philadelphia-flyers/c-279936832?tid=279843440

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Rask, Hurricanes edge Devils

 

Forward has two goals, Carolina holds on to defeat New Jersey

 

by Kurt Dusterberg / NHL.com Correspondent

March 28th, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Victor Rask is a soft-spoken Swede, but the second-year NHL forward is beginning to let his game do the talking.

Rask scored twice and the Carolina Hurricanes held off the New Jersey Devils 3-2 at PNC Arena on Sunday.

The 23-year-old center reached the 20-goal mark for the first time, boosting his point total to 45.

"It's a lot of fun to score goals, but I just try to develop for every game and see how that goes," he said.

Rask has six goals in the past 10 games, and is a reliable scoring option for the Hurricanes.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-new-jersey-devils-recap/c-279944876?tid=279894248

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Crosby lifts Penguins by Rangers in overtime

 

Pittsburgh moves within three points of New York for second place in division

 

by Dan Rosen @drosennhl / NHL.com Staff Writer

March 28th, 2016

NEW YORK -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are chasing the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division, but Pittsburgh doesn't have to catch New York to feel confident about defeating the Rangers should they meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins, at least for now, appear to have the Rangers' number.

Sidney Crosby scored his 32nd goal of the season with 29.5 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win against New York at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. It was the Penguins third win against the Rangers in as many games this month.

The earliest they can play each other again is the Eastern Conference First Round, provided the standings hold.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-new-york-rangers-recap/c-279947470?tid=279894250

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Blackhawks defeat Canucks, clinch playoff berth

 

Ladd scores late to lift Chicago to victory; Darling makes 26 saves

 

by Kevin Woodley / NHL.com Correspondent

March 28th, 2016

VANCOUVER -- Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews played parts of three seasons together leading up to the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup championship in 2010, so it shouldn't be surprising they've had chemistry since Chicago reacquired Ladd from the Winnipeg Jets last month.

Ladd scored the winning goal on a drop pass from Toews with 2:27 left in the third period, and Chicago clinched its eighth straight berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Sunday.

It was Ladd's third goal in two games and his sixth in 13 since the Feb. 25 trade with Winnipeg.

"Every game, you are getting more comfortable," Ladd said of playing with Toews and Marian Hossa. "You know what to expect from each other."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-canucks-earn-nhl-playoff-berth/c-279948018?tid=279894356

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Giroux OT goal lifts Flyers past Jets

 

Scores with 13.6 seconds left to help Philadelphia maintain wild-card lead on Detroit

 

by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

March 29th, 2016

Giroux's overtime winner WPG@PHI: Gostisbehere steals, Giroux nets OT winner

3/28/16: Shayne Gostisbehere steals the puck and quickly sends a short pass to Claude Giroux, who scores the game-winning goal in overtime

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux answered any questions about whether he'd be able to play Monday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Giroux scored with 13.6 seconds left in overtime to give the Flyers a 3-2 win against the Jets at Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia (37-25-13) holds the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Flyers and Detroit Red Wings each have 87 points after Detroit defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Monday, but Philadelphia is in the East's final playoff spot because it's played one fewer game.

With the final seconds of overtime ticking away, Giroux was first on the puck after Dustin Byfuglien's shot missed the Philadelphia net. He led a 2-on-1 with Shayne Gostisbehere and tried centering a pass. Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele tipped the pass, but Gostisbehere knocked down the puck and backhanded a pass ahead to Giroux, who was alone in front of Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Giroux lifted a wrist shot off Pavelec's shoulder and into the net.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/flyers-defeat-jets-in-overtime/c-279963106?tid=279894468

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Capitals win Presidents' Trophy

 

Washington clinches top spot in NHL after defeating Blue Jackets

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

Caps clinch Presidents' Trophy CBJ@WSH: Capitals clinch second Presidents' Trophy

3/28/16: The Capitals clinch their second President's Trophy in franchise history with a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets at Verizon Center

 

WASHINGTON -- They have accomplished much of what they set out to do this season, but the Washington Capitals aren't going to celebrate just yet.

"There's not going to be a champagne party or anything like that," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after his team clinched the Presidents' Trophy with a 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Verizon Center on Monday. "There's a sense of fulfillment that we said we were going to do some things and we accomplished them so far and we've still got some things to accomplish. The season's not over because we wrapped this up."

Washington is atop the NHL standings with 113 points and guaranteed home-ice advantage for the entirety of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I think we all knew it was coming," defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "We're not spraying champagne or anything, but I think guys are happy. It's a marathon. We won the marathon, and now we get to prepare for the seven-game sprints."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-clinch-presidents-trophy/c-279963622?tid=279894470

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Red Wings hang on to defeat Sabres

 

Detroit almost squanders 3-0 lead, keeps pace with Flyers for second wild card in East

 

by Paul Harris / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

Sheahan goes top-shelf BUF@DET: Sheahan snipes one past Johnson

3/28/16: Riley Sheahan carries the puck through the neutral zone to the top of the circle and rips a wrist shot top-shelf past Chad Johnson

 

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings almost let a 3-0 lead with three minutes remaining slip away, but held on to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 at Joe Louis Arena on Monday.

The Red Wings remain tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime Monday and hold the tie-breaker since they have a game in hand. The Red Wings, fourth in the Atlantic Division, moved to within a point of the third-place Boston Bruins.

Dylan Larkin, Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening scored for Detroit (38-27-11). Henrik Zetterberg had two assists and Jimmy Howard made 18 saves.

"I thought we had to be good. I thought we were. … obviously, until the very end there," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I thought we played a good game, we didn't give them much, didn't give up many shots, didn't give up a whole lots of chances. Obviously there's still corrections we can make with some mistakes. Overall, I thought it was good."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red-wings-defeat-buffalo-sabres/c-279966378?tid=279894472

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Bishop, Lightning shut out Maple Leafs

 

Tampa Bay goalie makes 34 saves to blank Toronto

 

by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

TAMPA -- Ben Bishop had 34 saves for his 16th career shutout in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 3-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on Monday.

Mike Blunden, Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman scored for the Lightning (44-27-5), who are tied with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers, however, have a game in hand and will host the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

"There are team shutouts and there are goalie shutouts, take a guess which one that was," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "There are games you're going play and you walk out of there wondering how we didn't get a point. And then you have games, hopefully there are not near as many, where you say for sure we didn't deserve to roll out of there with a 3-0 win."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/ben-bishop-of-tampa-bay-lightning-shuts-out-toronto-maple-leafs/c-279965206?tid=279894474

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Avalanche hang on for win against Predators

 

Nashville can't finish rally, fails in bid to clinch playoff spot

 

by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

NASHVILLE -- Semyon Varlamov made 14 of his 32 saves in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche hung on for a 4-3 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Monday.

Shawn Matthias scored to put Colorado ahead 4-1 with 7:47 remaining. He took a pass from Mikkel Boedker and beat Predators goaltender Carter Hutton on a breakaway for his 10th goal.

"The guys were competing tonight," Matthias said. "We wanted it. We're still in this race, we believe in each other. It's a big team win."

The Avalanche (39-33-4) are three points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. They lost 4-0 to the Wild at home Saturday.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/avalanche-defeat-predators/c-279967128?tid=279894476

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Ducks finish 3-1-1 road trip, defeat Oilers

 

Gibson has 27 saves, Anaheim holds off Edmonton

 

by By Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

Perry hammers early goal ANA@EDM: Perry opens the scoring with a blast

3/28/16: Corey Perry brings the puck into the zone and unleashes a slap shot past Cam Talbot to give the Ducks an early lead

 

EDMONTON -- A strong outing by goaltender John Gibson helped the Anaheim Ducks conclude a five-game road trip with a win and pulled them within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division.

Gibson made 27 saves for the Ducks in a 2-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Monday.

Corey Perry and Brandon Pirri scored for Anaheim (42-23-10) in its second consecutive victory to concluded the road trip 3-1-1. The Kings lost 5-2 at the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

"I thought we were resilient, but we were pretty sloppy tonight and we looked a little tired," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was a good win for us to have at the end of a long road trip, allowing only one goal. They missed some opportunities, but [Gibson] was the difference in the game."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-defeat-edmonton-oilers/c-279970006?tid=279894478

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Bennett, Monahan power Flames past Coyotes

 

Forwards combine for five points, help Calgary end three-game skid

 

by Jerry Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

March 29th, 2016

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Calgary Flames were missing leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau on Monday, but rookie Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan provided more than enough offense to overcome the loss.

Bennett scored two goals, Monahan had a goal and two assists, and Joni Ortio made 22 saves to help the Flames to a 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena.

With Gaudreau sidelined by an upper-body injury and several other regulars out, Calgary called up four players from Stockton of the American Hockey League for the game: defenseman Brett Kulak and forwards Derek Grant, Emile Poirier and Hunter Shinkaruk. Grant and Shinkaruk each got his first NHL point on an assist.

"All the kids coming up brought a lot of new energy. I really liked their third periods," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "That was our best period. We were skating well, we made smart decisions and we were intense. I was proud of the entire group."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/calgary-flames-defeat-arizona-coyotes/c-279972910?tid=279894480

Edited March 29, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots