Gibson helps Ducks keep pace with San Jose
John Gibson made 34 saves in his third shutout of the season, and Jakob Silfverberg had a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 2-0 victory over Dallas in Anaheim on Tuesday night.
Silfverberg scored a powerplay goal in the second period, and the Swedish forward set up Andrew Cogliano’s topshelf shot with 5:18 to play. Their line with center Ryan Kesler combined for 17 shots and largely dominated play for the Ducks, who stayed even with the Sharks atop the Pacific Division with their fifth win in seven games.
Antti Niemi stopped 36 shots for the Stars, who wrapped up their three-game road trip with their fourth loss in five games.
Both teams played without their injured captains. Dallas’ Jamie Benn missed his fourth straight game with a foot injury, and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf also missed his fourth straight game with a lowerbody injury.
Gibson played in his ninth consecutive game for the Ducks and earned his ninth career shutout — his second in four starts. After sharing the Jennings Trophy with Frederik Andersen last year, Gibson has been increasingly solid following a slow start to his first season as Anaheim’s unquestioned No. 1 netminder.
After a scoreless first period, the teams exchanged fruitless power plays in the second before Anaheim finally snapped its 0-for-16 drought with the man advantage, its longest of the season. Silfverberg pounced on a fat rebound of Corey Perry’s shot in the slot for his 12th goal.
Late in the third period, Silfverberg surged ahead on a rush and threaded a cross-ice pass to Cogliano for an exceptional top-shelf shot. Cogliano ended an eight-game goal drought.
Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 3:
Duncan Keith scored a power-play goal 38 seconds into overtime, lifting host Chicago to its fourth straight victory. Keith, who also had an assist, beat Petr Mrazek with a rising screened shot from the top of the slot. The man advantage was set up when Justin Adbelkader was called for boarding Chicago’s Niklas Hjalmarsson with 15.2 seconds left in the third period.
Predators 2, Canucks 1:
Calle Jarnkrok scored a shorthanded goal for host Nashville with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime. With time ticking down in the extra period, the Predators’ Roman Josi blocked a shot from Troy Stecher and started a 2-on-1 break with Jarnkok. In the low slot, Josi slid a pass to his right, where Jarnkrok was there to onetime the puck past Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller.
Hurricanes 5, Blue Jackets 3:
Jordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal for host Carolina on a deflection with 16:10 to play. Victor Rask had two assists and an empty-net goal, Jeff Skinner had a goal and two assists, and Derek Ryan had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Columbus has lost three of four since winning 16 straight.
Bruins 5, Blues 3:
Brad Marchand scored twice for Boston, including an empty netter, and David Backes got into a fight in his return to St. Louis. Frank Vatrano, Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug also scored for the Bruins. Backes, who spent his first 10 seasons with St. Louis before signing with Boston as a free agent, fought with former teammate Joel Edmundson late in the second to the delight of the Scottrade Center crowd.
Sabres 4, Flyers 1:
Evander Kane scored to cap host Buffalo’s threegoal, second-period surge. Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists for the Sabres. Buffalo goalie Anders Nilsson stopped 39 shots but lost his shutout bid on Brayden Schenn’s power-play goal with 2:07 left.