Jagr scores as Panthers defeat Ducks for third straight road win
>> ANAHEIM: Jaromir Jagr scored the goahead goal in the second period and James Reimer made 35 saves as the Florida Panthers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Friday night for their third consecutive win.
Colton Sceviour had a goal, Aaron Ekblad scored on the power play and Derek MacKenzie added an emptynet goal, giving the Panthers six wins in their last seven games. Florida (2620-10) have won three straight to start a five-game road trip and now trail Toronto by one point for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference play-offs.
Andrew Cogliano scored a shorthanded goal and James Gibson stopped 27 shots for the Ducks, who had picked up a point in 12 of their previous 14 home games.
The 45-year-old Jagr gave Florida a 2-1 lead with a moment of his ageless brilliance. Jagr stole the puck from defenceman Josh Manson coming out from behind the Ducks’ net and calmly used a series of dekes before pocketing his 760th career goal.
In Columbus, Ohio, Brandon Dubinsky scored just over a minute into overtime as the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1.
Dubinsky lifted a shot over Matt Murray as he skated into the slot to win it for the Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky had 38 saves, and Ryan Murray scored in the second period as Columbus moved within a point of Pittsburgh for second place in the rough Metropolitan Division.
Murray made 37 saves, and Ian Cole scored for the Penguins, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back. The Penguins lost for the first time in four games.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Mikko Rantanen scored at 4:23 minutes of overtime to give Colorado a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, ending the Avalanche’s losing streak at five games.
Matt Duchene set up the goal on a 2-on-1 break.
Tyson Barrie also scored for Colorado, and Calvin Pickard made 28 saves. Last in the NHL at 16-38-2, the Avalanche are 6-2 in overtime.
Jeff Skinner scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight.