Golden Knights acquire ex-Wing Mantha from Capitals

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals in a trade finalized Tuesday.

The defending Stanley Cup champions sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to Washington for the pending free agent winger. The Capitals are retaining half of Mantha’s salary.

Mantha just reached 20 goals in a season for the first time since 2019. He gives Vegas a valuable depth player as it tries to become the first repeat title winner since Pittsburgh in 2016 and ’17.

Tuesday’s games

Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 3: Jeff Carter and Reilly Smith scored just over a minute apart midway through the third period as host Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak. The Blue Jackets tied it earlier in the period on a short-handed goal by Jack Roslovic before Carter and Smith beat rookie goaltender Jet Greaves to give the Penguins some breathing room.

Panthers 5, Devils 3: Nick Cousins had two goals as visiting Florida won its sixth straight and spoiled the debut of interim Devils coach Travis Green. Florida leads the NHL with 43 wins and 90 points, and it is 25-4-2 since Dec. 23. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier and Colin Miller scored for the Devils in their first game since general manager Tom Fitzgerald relieved Lindy Ruff of his coaching duties on Monday.

Islanders 4, Blues 2: Bo Horvat scored the go-ahead goal early in the third and host New York won its fourth straight. Kyle Palmieri, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mathew Barzal also scored for the Islanders who moved within four points of the Philadelphia Flyers for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. Ilya Sorokin finished with 19 saves and improved to 5-1 since the 6-5 overtime loss to the Rangers in the Stadium Series game on Feb. 18.