The Chicago Blackhawks took control in the
second period to grab a win over the arch-rival St. Louis Blues.
Patrick Sharp scored his 33rd goal of the season to give Chicago
a 2-1 lead in the second while Marcus Kruger scored just 56 seconds
into the third period to put the game on ice for the Blackhawks.
Chicago has now won three straight, while St. Louis has lost its
last two, both heading into the final week of the NHL regular
season.
It was the second straight win Chicago (45-19-15) has earned over
St. Louis (52-19-7) in the last three weeks and moved the Blackhawks
to within one point of second-place Colorado in the Central
Division.
___
Oilers 4, Ducks 2
The Edmonton Oilers scored three unanswered goals in the second
period to stun the Anaheim Ducks for the second time in a week and a
half.
The Western Conference cellar-dwellers, Edmonton (28-42-9), also
posted an overtime win at home on March 29.
Viktor Fasth made 34 saves to hold off Anaheim who saw Corey Perry
notch his 42nd goal of the season.
Anaheim (50-20-8) holds a one-point lead on the San Jose Sharks for
the top spot in the Pacific Division.
___
Penguins 3, Avalanche 2 (Shootout)
Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury stopped 39 shots and was perfect in the
shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Colorado Avalanche.
Brandon Sutter scored two goals for the Penguins, who won despite
missing captain Sidney Crosby.
Colorado goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots, and center
Ryan O'Reilly and left wing Patrick Bordeleau scored for the
Avalanche (50-21-7), which had its six-game winning streak snapped.
The Penguins (50-24-5), locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern
Conference, had several players sit out for unspecified injuries.
Most notable was Crosby, the NHL points leader with 102, who had
played in every game before Sunday.
___
Flyers 5, Sabres 2
Brayden Schenn scored twice, and goaltender Steve Mason made 17
saves to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres.
The Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak. Philadelphia (40-29-9)
closed within two points of the New York Rangers for second place in
the Metropolitan Division.
After a long stretch playing the NHL's top teams, the Flyers
welcomed a visit from the league's worst team. The Sabres (21-48-9)
are 1-6-1 in their past eight games.
The Florida Panthers ended a season-high five-game losing streak
with a win over the Dallas Stars.
Panthers left wing Sean Bergenheim scored his 16th goal of the
season with a tip-in at 15:29 in the third period to break a 2-2
tie.
The Stars (38-29-11) were coming off a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay
Lightning. Dallas hasn't been to the postseason in six years, but is
in position for the second West Conference wild-card spot, leading
by one point over Phoenix.
___
Blue Jackets 4, Islanders 0
Center Mark Letestu and rookie center Boone Jenner each had a goal
and an assist, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had his second
shutout in three games, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a rout
of the New York Islanders.
Bobrovsky finished with 31 saves.
The win kept the Blue Jackets (40-31-7) in eighth place in the
Eastern Conference with four games left in their regular season.
If they qualify, it would be the franchise's second playoff berth in
13 seasons. The other was after the 2008-09 season.
