Blue Jackets backup has big night
COLUMBUS, Ohio Joonas Korpisalo has been shuttled between Columbus and the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Cleveland quite a bit this season. Maybe now, coach John Tortorella will let him stick around.
The backup goalie made 31 saves, Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner had a goal each and the Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 52 on Wednesday night.
Columbus moved into a tie for second place with Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins visit on Friday night in what is likely to be a playoff atmosphere at Nationwide Arena.
Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Matt Calvert also scored, and Alexander Wennberg, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones each had a pair of assists for the Blue Jackets.
“I thought the lines had more balance tonight right on through,” Tortorella said. “Every line contributed.”
Nazem Kadri scored both goals for Toronto, and Curtis McElhinney blocked 30 shots. It was a homecoming for McElhinney, who was waived by the Blue Jackets earlier this season after backing up Sergei Bobrovsky the past few years.
Josh Leivo assisted on both goals for the Maple Leafs, who squandered a chance to move ahead of Ottawa and Boston for second place in the Atlantic Division.
BLUES 2, RED WINGS 0
DETROIT — Carter Hutton made 25 saves for his second straight shutout, Ivan Barbashev scored 2:06 into the game and Jaden Schwartz had an empty-net goal in the final seconds, helping the St. Louis Blues beat the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blues have won a season-high five straight games, and coach Mike Yeo has won six of seven since replacing the fired Ken Hitchcock.
Detroit has dropped five straight games for the second time in less than a month, matching its season-long losing streak. Detroit also lost five straight following a 6-2 start to what’s become a difficult season.
The Red Wings played their first home game since team owner Mike Ilitch died Friday.
FLAMES 3, FLYERS 1
CALGARY — Rookie Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and an assist and Brian Elliott made 33 stops to lead the Calgary Flames to a win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
TJ Brodie also scored and Mark Girodano put the puck into an empty net with 39 seconds left for Calgary. Nick Cousins scored for Philadelphia.
Nyquist suspended six games
NEW YORK Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist was suspended for six games without pay by the NHL on Wednesday for high-sticking Minnesota Wild defenceman Jared Spurgeon in the face.
On Sunday in Minnesota’s 6-3 home victory, Spurgeon knocked Nyquist to the ice, and Nyquist came up swinging, using the blade of his stick to spear Spurgeon just below his left eye. Nyquist was called for a double-minor for high-sticking. Spurgeon missed a few shifts while getting stitches in his cheek.
The suspension will cost Nyquist $158,333. The 27-year-old Swede has seven goals and 22 assists in 56 games this season.
Caps, Kings make a deal
WASHINGTON The Washington Capitals added some insurance on their blue line Wednesday ahead of the NHL trade deadline by acquiring Tom Gilbert from the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional draft pick.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal with the team on its bye week.
Los Angeles retains 20 per cent of Gilbert’s $1.4 million salary and cap hit in the deal, which hinges on Washington’s playoff success and Gilbert’s involvement. The Kings get a 2017 fifth-round pick if the Capitals win two or more playoff rounds and Gilbert plays in 50 per cent or more of those games.
Gilbert is a veteran of 655 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers and Kings, putting up 223 points. He played in 12 playoff games for Montreal in 2015.
Vermette likely to sit out 10 games
Anaheim Ducks centre Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.
Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso’s legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu during the third period of the Ducks’ 1-0 win Tuesday night.
Vermette had a disciplinary conference call with the league and the players’ union Wednesday, but the NHL didn’t issue an immediate confirmation of what’s expected to be an automatic 10-game suspension under league rules for applying physical force to an official without intent to injure.
The normally mild-mannered Vermette appeared to act out of frustration when Alphonso dropped the puck before the forward had put his stick in place on the ice.
The officials immediately stopped the game and assessed a game misconduct to Vermette, who has been among the NHL’s best faceoff men this season.