Canucks deliver blow to Anaheim’s playoff chances
VANCOUVER — Brandon Sutter had two goals and an assist to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Alex Biega, with his first goal in over three years, and Sam Gagner also scored for Vancouver (28-40-9), which has won three of its past four games after losing seven straight. Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 shots. Andrew Cogliano scored for the Ducks (3925-13), who wrapped a four-game road trip and are 5-1-1 in its past seven games.
The loss dropped Anaheim out of third place in the Pacific Division and into the second Wild Card spot in the West. California rivals, the L.A. Kings, moved into third (with a game in hand), with the two teams tied at 91 points.
Anaheim’s John Gibson made 26 saves. He had been dominant against Vancouver, coming into the game with a 6-1-1 record, a 1.37 goals-against average and three shutouts against the Canucks.
But Vancouver got to him at 9:53 in the opening period. Daniel Sedin’s shot from the face-off circle bounced off Gibson and right to Gagner, who batted in the rebound.
In the third, Biega put Vancouver ahead 2-1 with a slapshot from the blue line that cleared traffic and found the corner of the net. That was Biega’s first goal in 132 NHL games.
Sutter made it a two-goal lead when he was sprung on a breakaway, hit the side of the net, then collected the puck and flipped it in over an out-of-position Gibson.
The Canucks killed off a penalty to Sutter in the final three minutes to ice the win.
BLUE JACKETS 7, OILERS 3
EDMONTON — Thomas Vanek had three goals and an assist to lift Columbus over Edmonton. Artemi Panarin, Boone Jenner, Cam Atkinson and Markus Nutivaara also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won 11 of 12. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots.
Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Drake Caggiula also scored for the Oilers, who have lost two straight. Cam Talbot stopped 13 of 18 shots before being replaced by Laurent Brossoit.
McDavid picked up his 100th point, tying his league-leading total from last year by setting up Nugent-Hopkins to open the scoring, before netting his 40th goal of the season.
JETS 5, BRUINS 4 (SO)
WINNIPEG — Patrik Laine scored the deciding goal in the shootout, Brandon Tanev had his first career hat-trick and Winnipeg beat Boston to cap a perfect six-game homestand.
Joe Morrow had his first goal for Winnipeg since being acquired from Montreal last month, and Adam Lowry had two assists.
Ryan Donato, Danton Heinen, David Pastrnak and Torey Krug had goals for the Bruins, who scored three power-play goals. Krug added one assist and Brad Marchand had two.
Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves for his 40th win for the Jets. It was also Winnipeg’s seventh straight victory at home.