DeBrusk returns, helps Bruins beat Islanders
Jake DeBrusk scored two minutes into his first game in six weeks, Trent Frederic had a pair of goals and Linus Ullmark stopped 26 shots to lead the host Boston Bruins to a 6-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Nick Foligno, Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Zacha also scored for Boston, which has won four of its last five games to amass 89 points and the NHL's best record.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored and Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves for the Islanders.
DeBrusk missed 17 games with hand and leg injuries.
DEVILS 5, PENGUINS 2 >> Nico Hischier had two goals and two assists and Vitek Vanecek made 29 saves for visiting New Jersey. The Devils improved to an NHL-best 21-4-3 on the road. Evgeni Malkin scored twice for Pittsburgh to
reach the 20-goal plateau. Dustin Tokarski stopped 38 shots.
PREDATORS 7, PANTHERS 3 >> Tommy Novak scored twice and Roman Josi scored a goal and added two assists to lead host Nashville. Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist for the Predators; Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves. Nick Cousins, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart scored for Florida. BLUE JACKETS 4, STARS 1 >> Adam Boqvist broke a tie early in the third period and last-place Columbus beat host Dallas. The Western Conferenceleading Stars have lost seven of nine.
Six of the losses have come at home. Ty Dellandrea scored the only Stars goal unassisted.
AVALANCHE 4, BLUES 1 >> Bowen Byram scored twice, and Mikko Rantanen scored his 200th career NHL goal for visiting Colorado. Valeri Nichuskin also scored, and Justus Annunen stopped 19 shots in his season debut. Sammy Blais scored for St. Louis, and Jordan Binnington made 29 saves. NOTE >> The Blues traded captain and center Ryan O'Reilly along with center Noel Acciari to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. St. Louis acquired Toronto's 2023 first-round draft pick and 2024 second-round draft pick and Ottawa's 2023 third-round pick from the Maple Leafs along with AHL forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette. Toronto also traded its 2025 fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild for the rights to forward prospect Josh Pillar in exchange for the Wild picking up 25% of O'Reilly's salary.