BRUINS SECURE 3,000TH VICTORY

newark, n. j. » Rookie Frank Vatrano scored early, Jonas Gustavsson made 19 saves and the struggling Boston Bruins beat the banged- up New Jersey Devils 4- 1 on Friday night for the 3,000th win in franchise history.

Ryan Spooner, Jimmy Hayes and Colin Miller also scored as the Bruins snapped a two- game losing streak and won for only the second time in seven games.

Bobby Farnham scored for the Devils, who have dropped three straight games in regulation for the first time since the start of the season. Cory Schneider finished with 27 saves.

The game was the start of a five- game road trip for the Bruins, and that might be the best place for them now. They are now 12- 3- 2 on the road and 9- 11- 2 at home.

Boston has won its past five against New Jersey and 17 of 20.

FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Elias Lindholm scored twice, Cam Ward made 35 saves and the Hurricanes beat the Blue Jackets 4- 1. Lindholm put Carolina ahead 2- 1 on a slap shot with 5: 25 left in the second period then added an empty- net goal with 1: 01 remaining. Jordan Staal and Chris Terry also scored for the Hurricanes. … Phillip Danault scored his first NHL goal, Corey Crawford made 28 saves and the Blackhawks beat the Sabres 3- 1 for their sixth consecutive victory. Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jonathan Toews also scored for Chicago, and Crawford remained perfect in seven career starts against Buffalo. … Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists, and Steven Stamkos capped Tampa Bay’s three- goal, thirdperiod rally to lift the Lightning to a 3- 2 victory over the Oilers. Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, who benefited from some luck as each of their three goals deflected in off an Edmonton skater.

FOOTNOTES

Ovechkin closing in on milestone. The Capitals left winger is three goals away from becoming the 43rd player in NHL history to reach 500 for his career and likely will be the fifth- fastest to hit that milestone. … The NHL suspended Capitals forward Marcus Johansson for two games for his hit to the head of Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey. … The Rangers traded forward Emerson Etem to the Canucks for AHL forward Nicklas Jensen and a sixth- round pick in the 2017 NHL draft. … Canadiens coach Michel Therrien doesn’t expect star goalie Carey Price to return before early February at the earliest. The Associated Press