Flyers win on Lindros’ big night
PHILADELPHIA — On a night that belonged to Eric Lindros, the Philadelphia Flyers paid tribute to the Hall of Fame center with a gritty comeback.
Sean Couturier scored 18 seconds into overtime as the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday after retiring Lindros’ No. 88 jersey.
“A huge comeback win on a special night,” said rookie Nolan Patrick, who scored his first goal in 25 games.
The big and skillful Lindros, who grew up watching the hometown Maple Leafs in Ontario, spent eight seasons with the Flyers.
He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1995 and helped Philadelphia reach the Stanley Cup Final two years later.
Back on good terms with the organization after an ugly 2001 departure, Lindros received several standing ovations before his number was hoisted to the rafters in a ceremony that delayed the start by an hour.
Couturier continued his hot streak with his eighth goal in six games. He took a feed from Travis Konecny and beat Frederik Andersen with a wrist shot.
Couturier’s 26th goal and 46th point in his already career-best season lifted the Flyers to their fifth win in six games.
“Coots is playing on another level,” Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. “We’re trying to match it. He’s definitely carrying us.”
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At Denver, Nathan Mackinnon scored twice in a 58-second first-period span and added an assist for Colorado, which built a 4-0 lead and won its eighth straight. The Avs have yet to trail during the streak, their longest since 2005-06.
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At Los Angeles, Patric Hornqvist scored twice to back Casey Desmith, who had 28 saves in his first NHL victory, as Pittsburgh won for the fifth time and six games and handed Los Angeles its fifth straight loss.
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At New York, Rick Nash
Avalanche 5, Sharks 3— Penguins 3, Kings 1 — Rangers 4, Sabres 3 —
scored twice for the second straight game for New York, and Pavel Buchnevich scored the go-ahead goal with 3:58 left.
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At New York, Patrice Bergeron scored three goals for his third career hat trick as Boston earned a point for the 15th consecutive game (11-0-4).
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At Columbus, Ohio, Artemi Panarin scored in the second round of a shootout to back winner Joonas Korpisalo, who had 35 saves through overtime.
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At Nashville, Tenn., Craig Smith scored the decisive shootout goal as Nashville won its fourth straight and dealt Arizona its fifth loss in a row.
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At Newark, N.J., Sami Vatanen notched his third assist of the game on Taylor Hall’s breakaway goal 34 seconds into overtime.
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At Ottawa, Ontario, Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden Schenn scored in the second period for St. Louis.
Bruins 5, Islanders 2— Blue Jackets 2, Stars 1,SO— Predators 3, Coyotes 2,SO— Devils 4, Capitals 3, OT— Blues 4, Senators 1 —