Tavares helps Isles beat struggling Rangers in shootout
NEW YORK » John Tavares came through in the shootout and helped the New York Islanders keep up their recent domination of their struggling crosstown rivals.
Tavares got the deciding goal in the shootout to lift the Islanders to a 4-3 win Thursday night, beating the Rangers for the eighth time in the last nine games. Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal scored in regulation, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 38 shots as the Islanders recovered after blowing a twogoal lead in the third to finish 2-2-0 on a four-game trip.
“They found some momentum and some energy and brought a lot (in the third period), but we did a good job for the most part to get it to overtime, get a point and find a way in the shootout,” Tavares said.
David Desharnais, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes scored, and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 35 saves for the Rangers, who earned a point for the second straight game but lost their fifth straight (03-2) to fall to 1-5-2. It’s their fewest points after eight games since they were 1-6-1 to start the 1959-60 season. Back then, teams got a point for a tie, and there was no overtime or shootouts. LIGHTNING 2, BLUE JACKETS 0 » Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored his first two NHL goals and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 43 saves for his fifth career shutout in Tampa Bay’s victory over Columbus.
Nikita Kucherov assisted on both goals to push his NHL-leading points total to 14. His goals streak was stopped at seven games. BRUINS 6, CANUCKS 3 » Patrice Bergeron had a goal and three assists in his season debut, moving up to seventh on Boston’s career scoring list in the Bruins’ victory over Vancouver.
Anders Bjork scored twice, Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists and David Krejci and David Pastrnak each had a goal and an assist. The Bruins scored five straight goals after falling behind 1-0 early in the first period. DEVILS 5, SENATORS 4 » John Moore scored 1:20 into overtime and New Jersey used three straight goals to beat Ottawa.
No. 1 draft pick Nico Hischier scored his first two goals for New Jersey. Kyle Palmieri and Marcus Johansson also scored to help the Devils improve to 4-0-0 on the road and 6-1-0 overall. Cory Schneider allowed four goals on 24 shots before leaving with a lower-body injury. Keith Kinkaid started the third period and stopped nine shots. Taylor Hall had four assists.
Kings’ Carter out indefinitely
EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. » Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a cut on his left leg.
Carter was hurt on a hit by Jeff Petry during the Kings’ 5-1 victory over Montreal on Wednesday night to extend the best start in franchise history (5-0-1). Petry’s skate came off the ice and connected with the inside of Carter’s lower leg during the first period.
Carter has three assists in six games this season for the Kings, who start a six-game road trip Saturday in Columbus.