Wilson scores, ejected
WASHINGTON Tom Wilson scored again before being ejected, Nicklas Backstrom had a hat trick and the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 6-3 on Friday night to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Wilson scored his seventh goal in nine games since coming back from a lengthy suspension, extending his careerbest goals streak to five games and points streak to seven. The short-handed goal gives Wilson 13 points, but a hit on New Jersey’s Brett Seney late in the second period put him back in the spotlight for the wrong reason.
After Seney released the puck and it had gone into the corner late in the second period, Wilson skated up from behind and hit him with his left shoulder. Wilson was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head, which carries with it an automatic suspension that the NHL must review before deciding to rescind. Wilson, who was given a 20-game suspension that was reduced to 14 for an illegal check to the head in the preseason finale, could avoid being suspended. After review, he did not make principal contact to Seney’s head, it did not look like a predatory play and Deney returned at the start of the third.
PANTHERS 3, SABRES 2, OT
SUNRISE, Fla. — Aleksander Barkov scored at 2:26 of overtime for Florida to hand Buffalo its second loss in two nights following a 10-game winning streak.
DUCKS 2, HURRICANES 1, OT
RALEIGH, N.C. — Ryan Getzlaf scored 1:15 into overtime to lift Anaheim past Carolina.
FLAMES 4, KINGS 1
CALGARY — Mikael Backlund had two goals and an assist to lead the Calgary Flames to a win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan also scored for the Flames (15-9-2), who sit atop the Pacific Division standings with 32 points, one ahead of the Anaheim Ducks (13-10-5). Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm finished with two assists each.
Goalie Mike Smith made 13 saves. Adrian Kempe scored the lone goal for the Kings.
BLUES 3, AVALANCHE 2, OT
DENVER — Colton Parayko scored 1:34 into overtime to lift St. Louis past Colorado.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen scored in regulation, and Chad Johnson stopped 27 shots.
Nikita Zadorov and Mikko Rantanen scored for the Avalanche.