Mrazek scores another shutout
A hot goalie and a rejuvenated power play helped the Carolina Hurricanes break a three-game winless streak with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday.
Petr Mrazek stopped 32 shots to record his second shutout in 12 days and the Hurricanes (7-3-1) went 2-for-2 on the power play as they returned home with a win following a four-game road swing. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice, Nino Niederreiter had a goal and one assist, Jordan Staal scored and Sebastian Aho had two assists for Carolina.
Chicago (2-5-2) has lost four straight, including one overtime loss, and now has totaled just two goals in its last three games. Corey Crawford made 27 saves on 31 shots for the Blackhawks.
Mrazek, who posted a 31save shutout at Los Angeles on Oct. 15, was sharp throughout the game, particularly during a flurry of Chicago opportunities in the closing minutes of the first period that included a pad save on Patrick Kane at the goalmouth after a cross-ice feed.
Canadiens 5, Maple Leafs 2 — Jonathan Drouin scored two goals on breakaways, and the Montreal beat visiitng Toronto.
Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia and Nick Suzuki also scored for the Canadiens, who snapped a two-game losing skid. Carey Price made 29 saves.
Jake Muzzin and Andreas Johnsson scored for the Maple Leafs, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Backup Michael Hutchinson made 33 saves. Frederik Andersen led Toronto to a 4-1 victory over San Jose on Friday.
The Canadiens broke a 2-2 tie with three goals in the third period.
Predators 3, Lightning 2 — Ryan Ellis scored 3:15 into overtime and Nashville won in Tampa.
Ellis scored from the left circle shortly after Nashville failed to score on power play that resulted from Tampa Bay having too many men on the ice.
Calle Jarnkrok and Roman Josi also scored, and Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots for the Predators, who are 13-1-2 against Tampa Bay in the last 16 meetings. Nashville’s lone regulation loss to the Lightning this decade came Dec. 19, 2013.
Flyers 7, Blue Jackets 4 — Kevin Hayes scored the goahead short-handed goal late in a five-goal third period, and host Philadlephia rallied past Columns.
James van Riemsdyk had two goals and an assist.
Wild 5, Kings 1 — Eric Staal scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, Alex Stalock stopped 30 shots to give host Minnesota the win over Los Angeles.
Gerald Mayhew, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mikko Koivu and Jared Spurgeon also scored, and Matt Dumba added two assists for Minnesota, which has won three of four after beginning the year 1-6.
Ben Hutton scored for Los Angeles, and Jonathan Quick made 22 saves for the Kings, who have lost two straight.