NHL roundup: Andrei Kuzmenko gives surging Canucks another win

[December 15, 2022]  Andrei Kuzmenko scored the shootout winner to give the visiting Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 victory over the struggling Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

Bo Horvat, Conor Garland and Sheldon Dries scored in regulation for the Canucks, who have won four of five games and six consecutive road affairs. Goaltender Spencer Martin made 35 saves.

Mikael Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane and Trevor Lewis tallied for the Flames, who have dropped four straight games, the last three in extra time. Dillon Dube collected two assists and goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 24 shots as well as collecting one assist.

Kuzmenko buried a perfect shot from the slot with his first career shootout attempt, the lone skater for either team to convert in the shootout. Vancouver's last five victories have come in extra time.

Senators 3, Canadiens 2

Captain Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson each collected a power-play goal and an assist to fuel host Ottawa past Montreal to continue the Senators' hot streak.

Rookie Shane Pinto also tallied during a three-goal second period and Cam Talbot made 23 saves for Ottawa, which posted its third straight win and improved to 7-2-1 in its last 10 games. Alex DeBrincat notched three assists to extend his point streak to seven games (three goals, seven assists). Batherson has three goals and six assists during his six-game point streak.

Montreal's Kirby Dach converted Jake Evans' backhanded pass from behind the goal line to score at 8:05 of the third period and spoil Talbot's bid for his second shutout in as many games. Dach's goal was his fifth of the season and first since he tallied twice in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 9.

Dec 14, 2022; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) and left wing Marcus Foligno (17) celebrate a goal scored by defenseman Matt Dumba (not pictured) during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Wild 4, Red Wings 1

Frederick Gaudreau scored two goals and Minnesota won its third straight game by downing visiting Detroit.

Matt Dumba and Mats Zuccarello had the other goals for Minnesota, which has given up just two goals during the streak. Filip Gustavsson made 16 saves while recording his fifth consecutive victory.

Magnus Hellberg, making his first Red Wings start this season, stopped 18 shots. Elmer Soderblom scored the lone goal for Detroit, which is winless in its last four games.

--Field Level Media

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