Canadiens center taken off on stretcher after being hit by puck

Montreal Canadiens center Philip Danault was taken off the ice on a stretcher Saturday night after he being hit in the head by a slap shot from Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Danault went down with 1:37 left in the second period. Chara, who has one of the hardest shots in the NHL, looked on in concern as trainers attended to Danault. Danault was moving and speaking to medical staff before he left the ice to an ovation from the Montreal crowd. He was taken to a hospital.

Flyers

Philadelphia won its fourth game in a row with a 5-3 win against New Jersey, the Flyers’ first victory in New Jersey since Feb. 16. 2016. With both teams coming off their mid-season break, the game was billed as the first matchup between Nico Hischier of the Devils and Nolan Patrick of the Flyers, the top two picks in last year’s NHL draft.

While Hischier had the primary assist on Bratt’s game-opening goal and Patrick picked up two second-period penalties, including one that led to Palmieri’s goal, it was Couturier and the Flyers’ special teams who stole the show. The Flyers, who took the first five penalties, killed off 5 of 7 and scored on their only two extra-man chances.

Islanders

Rookie Mathew Barzal had two goals and three assists as the visiting New York Islanders beat their crosstown rival New York Rangers, 7-2. The Islanders now have won 9 of 10 against the Rangers, who play Sundaynight at the Penguins.