Preds edge Flames in OT
Mikael Granlund tied it up just before the end of regulation and then scored the winner 1:20 into overtime as the Nashville Predators beat Calgary 4-3 Thursday night in a showdown of the Western Conference’s two wild-card teams.
Roman Josi and Colton Sissons also had a goal apiece, with Ryan Ellis having three assists. Nashville won its third straight and improved to 6-1-1 over its last eight games.
Mikael Backlund had a goal and two assists, and Andrew Mangiapane and Rasmus Andersson each scored as Calgary had its two-game winning streak halted.
The Predators hadn’t been among the top eight teams in the West since Nov. 13 until Tuesday night after beating Ottawa, and even then they needed a loss by Arizona to give them the edge for the second wild card. By taking the season series 2-1, Nashville holds onto the second spot, a point behind the Flames with two games still in hand.
Nashville trailed 2-1 when Josi scored his 15th with 5:30 left from the left circle, squeezing the puck under goalie David Rittich’s right arm. Mangiapane put the Flames up 3-2 scoring with 42.9 seconds left for seemingly the winning goal.
Nashville took its timeout immediately, and Granlund tied it up from in front with the puck crossing the line just before the buzzer. Granlund then scored his 17th from the slot to start the Predators celebrating.
BRUINS 4, STARS 3
BOSTON — Nick Ritchie had a goal and an assist for his first points since Boston acquired him at the trade deadline to help the NHL-leading Bruins beat the Dallas Stars 4-3.
Brad Marchand broke a second-period tie and Ritchie scored 1:27 later to make it 3-1. Then, after Denis Gurianov cut the deficit to one early in the third, Ritchie fed David Pastrnak in the slot to again make it a two-goal game.
HAWKS 5, LIGHTNING 2
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Dominik Kubalik scored three goals in the third period to help Chicago beat Tampa Bay.
Slater Koekkoek scored his first goal of the season and Brandon Saad added another in Chicago’s first regulation victory over the Lightning since Dec. 13, 2009.
LEAFS 5, PANTHERS 3
SUNRISE, Fla (AP) — William Nylander scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift Toronto past Florida.
Auston Matthews, Kasperi Kapanen, Mark Hyman and Justin Holl also scored for Toronto.
Mike Hoffman, Noel Acciari and Mark Pysyk scored for Florida.
SENATORS 5, CANUCKS 2
OTTAWA — Bobby Ryan had a hat trick in his first home game in more than three months, leading Ottawa past Vancouver.
Ryan entered the joint NHL/NHLPA assistance program Nov. 20 after admitting to having a problem with alcohol. Connor Brown and Rudolfs Balcers also scored for Ottawa and Marcus Hogberg made 32 saves.
J.T. Miller and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Canucks.
RANGERS 5, CANADIENS 2
MONTREAL (AP) — Ryan Strome scored twice and added an assist and New York rallied to beat Montreal for its fifth straight victory.
Phillip Di Giuseppe, Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers.Max Domi and Tomas Tatar scored for the Canadiens.