NHL roundup: Niskanen's OT goal sends Caps past Rangers

[October 18, 2018]  Matt Niskanen scored with 2:42 left in overtime to give the host Washington Capitals a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Niskanen notched his first goal of the season at the right time. Evgeny Kuznetsov fired a shot from the left side that New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist got a glove on but could not control. The puck bounced away from the goalie and over to Niskanen, who got behind Lundqvist and put it into the net.

The victory snapped Washington's two-game losing streak. Alex Ovechkin finished with two goals. John Carlson added one goal and two assists. Nicklas Backstrom also had two assists in the victory. Goalie Braden Holtby finished with 29 saves for Washington.

Lundqvist had 34 saves for the Rangers, who got goals from Mika Zibanejad, Jimmy Vesey and Chris Kreider.

Canadiens 3, Blues 2

Brendan Gallagher scored with 10.5 seconds remaining to lift host Montreal to a win over struggling St. Louis.

An errant pass by St. Louis defenseman Colton Parayko was chipped by Tomas Tatar to Gallagher, who popped the puck over Blues goaltender Jake Allen for the game-winning goal, his fourth. Max Domi and Mike Reilly each had their first goals for Montreal, which has won three straight. Carey Price made 23 saves.

Vince Dunn and Brayden Schenn scored for the Blues, who have lost five of six, and Allen had 20 saves.

Flames 5, Bruins 2

Michael Frolik scored twice, and rookie defenseman Juuso Valimaki scored his first NHL goal as Calgary cruised past visiting Boston.

Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) celebrates after scoring the winning goal during overtime against the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Flames, and goalie Mike Smith was sensational in making 24 saves. The Bruins had a four-game winning streak snapped in their first of four straight road games.

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored for Boston. Goalie Tuukka Rask, who made 24 saves, lost to the Flames in regulation for the first time. Rask went into the game with a 6-0-3 career record against Calgary.

Ducks 4, Islanders 1

Ryan Kesler scored two goals, and John Gibson made 34 saves to lead host Anaheim past New York.

Adam Henrique and Hampus Lindholm also scored for the Ducks, who won for the fifth time in seven games to start the season. It was Kesler's first multi-goal game since Jan. 1, 2017, when he had a hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gibson lost his shutout with 35 seconds left when Casey Cizikas was credited with a goal off a Ross Johnson deflection of a shot from the point. Thomas Greiss finished with 21 saves for the Islanders.

--Field Level Media

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