NHL roundup: Desperate Jets stay alive with win

[April 07, 2015]  The Sports Xchange
 
 SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Winnipeg Jets played like a desperate team, out-working and out-scoring the suddenly reeling Minnesota Wild 2-0 on Monday.

Right wingers Drew Stafford and Blake Wheeler scored, while goalie Ondrej Pavelec turned in a 32-save performance, as the Jets improved their odds of their first playoff trip since the NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011.

Minnesota, which could have clinched a Western Conference playoff spot with a win, got 32 saves from goalie Devan Dubnyk but was shut out at home for just the second time this season and lost its third game in a row.

Canucks 2, Kings 1 (SO)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Left winger Chris Higgins scored in a shootout as Vancouver defeated Los Angeles in a game with a playoff feel.

Winger Daniel Sedin tied the game at 9:54 of the third, forcing overtime while Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack made 36 saves.

Goalie Jonathon Quick stopped 37 shots while left winger Dwight King scored the regulation goal for the Kings.

Stars 5, Sharks 1

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Dallas beat San Jose in a game that really had no winner as minutes before the opening faceoff, the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild, a result that eliminated both the Sharks and Stars from the Stanley Cup playoff chase.

It was probably more of a surprise for San Jose considering the Sharks owned the second-longest streak of reaching the playoffs with 10 straight, second only to Detroit's 23 in a row.

Dallas backup goalie Jhonas Enroth stopped 23 of 24 shots and left winger Jamie Benn scored two goals to lead the Stars. Left winger Ryan Garbutt, right winger Patrick Eaves and center Colton Sceviour also scored for Dallas. Center Joe Thornton scored San Jose's lone goal.

Rangers 4, Blue Jackets 3 (OT)

NEW YORK -- After tying the game in the dying seconds of regulation, center Derek Stepan scored with 49.6 seconds remaining in overtime as the New York Rangers rallied to beat Columbus at Madison Square Garden.

Stepan sent the game to overtime by scoring with 27.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Right winger Martin St. Louis and defenseman Dan Girardi also scored for the Rangers (51-21-7), who still hold the league's best record. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 of 32 shots.

Center Brandon Dubinsky, left winger Matt Calvert and right winger Marko Dano scored for the Blue Jackets, who received 38 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky.

Sabres 4, Hurricanes 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- After jumping out to a 4-0 lead and allowing three unanswered goals, Buffalo held on for a victory over Carolina.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko, right winger Brian Gionta, left winger Johan Larsson and center Tyler Ennis scored for Buffalo (23-49-8), while goalie Anders Lindback made 48 saves.

Right wingers Patrick Dwyer and Alexander Semin and center Eric Staal scored for the Hurricanes (29-38-11). Goalie Cam Ward made 21 saves.

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