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			 Islanders 5, Predators 2 
			 
			Defenseman Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey scored within a span of 99 
			seconds in the third period as the New York Islanders pulled away 
			from the Nashville Predators for a victory in a battle of NHL 
			division leaders. 
			 
			The goals by Leddy and Bailey each capped coast-to-coast rushes and 
			ensured victory for the Islanders who led 3-0 in the first period. 
			 
			With their sixth win in seven games, the Islanders (39-19-1) 
			remained at least four points ahead of the Rangers atop the 
			Metropolitan Division. 
			 
			The Islanders also tied the Predators for the NHL lead in wins. 
			 
			The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Predators 
			(39-13-6), who still lead the NHL in points. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			Canucks 5, Rangers 4 (Shootout) 
			 
			Alexandre Burrow and Radim Vrbata scored in a shootout to give the 
			Vancouver Canucks a victory over the New York Rangers. 
			  Canucks center Henrik Sedin sent the contest to overtime thanks to 
			his second goal of the game with two minutes remaining in 
			regulation. 
			 
			Shawn Matthias and Bo Horvat also scored for Vancouver (33-21-3). 
			Miller made 30 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopped 
			shots by right winger Mats Zuccarello and center Derek Stepan in the 
			shootout for the win. 
			 
			Stepan, Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Carl Hagelin scored for the 
			Rangers (34-16-6), who had their four-game winning streak snapped. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			Capitals 5, Jets 1 
			 
			Nicklas Backstrom scored two goals and assisted on another to lead 
			the Capitals to a win over the Winnipeg Jets. 
			 
			With his three-point night, Backstrom moved into a first-place tie 
			with Chicago Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane for the NHL's 
			points lead with 63. 
			 
			John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin and Troy Brouwer also scored while 
			goaltender Braden Holtby turned aside 19 shots to earn his 
			career-best 28th victory of the season for the Capitals (32-17-10). 
			 
			The Jets fell to 30-20-10. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			Blue Jackets 2, Penguins 1 
			 
			Brandon Dubinsky scored a short-handed, third-period goal to give 
			the Columbus Blue Jackets a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. 
			
			  Dubinsky's goal not only came against a struggling Pittsburgh power 
			play, but it also came after he fought Penguins star center Sidney 
			Crosby. 
			 
			Crosby got involved in his seventh NHL fight, including one in the 
			playoffs, when he squared off with Dubinsky at 14:10 of the second 
			period. Each landed a couple of punches, and it got the crowd 
			jumping. 
			 
			Scott Hartnell also scored for Columbus (26-27-3) while Evgeni 
			Malkin netted for Pittsburgh (32-17-9) who suffered a third straight 
			loss. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			
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			Sharks 5, Stars 2 
			 
			San Jose center Andrew Desjardins had two goals and fellow pivots 
			Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski two assists each while goaltender Antti 
			Niemi stopped 37 of 39 shots as the Sharks defeated the Dallas 
			Stars. 
			 
			The Stars (27-23-8) got two assists from captain Jamie Benn and a 
			goal and an assist from defenseman Trevor Daley. 
			 
			The win improved San Jose to 30-22-8. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			Panthers 3, Canadiens 2 (Shootout) 
			 
			Dave Bolland scored the shootout winner to lift the Florida Panthers 
			to a victory over the Montreal Canadiens. 
			 
			Goaltender Carey Price stopped 19 shots for Montreal (37-16-4) and 
			counterpart Roberto Luongo made 37 saves for the Panthers. 
			 
			Brendan Gallagher scored twice in regulation for the Canadiens. Left 
			winger Tomas Fleischmann and defenseman Steven Kampfer replied for 
			Florida (25-19-12). 
			 
			Gallagher's 100th career point started the scoring at 2:31 of the 
			second period. 
			 
			- - - 
			 
			Sabres 3, Flyers 2 (Shootout) 
			 
			Brian Flynn scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift the 
			Buffalo Sabres to a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. 
			 
			Deslauriers and Brian Gionta scored regulation goals, and goaltender 
			Michal Neuvirth made 36 saves for the Sabres (17-37-4). 
			
			
			  
			
			Ryan White and Jakub Voracek scored for Philadelphia (24-23-11). The 
			Flyers had their nine-game point streak snapped in a loss to the 
			Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, and they couldn't beat a 
			team with the fewest points in the NHL on Thursday. 
			 
			Even so, they moved within six points of the Boston Bruins for the 
			final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. (Editing by Sudipto 
			Ganguly) 
			
			[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights 
			reserved.] 
			Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, 
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