COUTURIER’S OT GOAL LIFTS FLYERS OVER COLUMBUS
OHIO» Sean Couturier COLUMBUS, scored 1:52 into overtime to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on Friday night, ending an 11-game losing streak in Columbus.
Wayne Simmonds also scored for Philadelphia, and Michael Neuvirth — filling in for the injured Brian Elliott — stopped 35 shots to pick up his eighth win of the season. The Flyers’ streak on the Blue Jackets’ home ice dated back to 2005.
Cam Atkinson tied it for Columbus late in the third period, and Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 23 saves in the Blue Jackets’ first overtime loss this season.
After a scoreless first period, the Flyers got on the board when Simmonds redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s shot from the left hash mark and sneaked the puck through Bobrovsky’s legs for his 20th at 11:25. Nolan Patrick also earned an assist.
Atkinson tied it with about 3½ minutes left in regulation as he buried the rebound from a wrister by David Savard.
Columbus outshot its opponent for the eighth straight game, 36-25.
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Thomas Greiss stopped 44 shots for his first shutout of the season, and the Islanders beat the Hurricanes 3-0. Johnny Boychuk, Anthony Beauvillier and John Tavares scored for the Islanders, who moved past the Hurricanes into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Greiss got his eighth career shutout one night after Jaroslav Halak had 50 saves in a 3-0 home win against the crosstown-rival Rangers. … Ben Bishop stopped 27 shots and the Stars held on to beat St. Louis 2-1, moving past the Blues into third place in the Central Division. Mattias Janmark and Stephen Johns scored for Dallas, which had a season-low 16 shots on goal while winning for the sixth time in seven games. The Stars, who had not been this high in the standings since Nov. 5, are tied with the Blues with 72 points, but have two games in hand.
FOOTNOTES Flames sign Backlund.
Mikael Backlund signed a six-year, $32.1 million deal to stay with the Calgary Flames, deciding against testing free agency this summer. The 28-year-old center had a breakout performance last season with 22 goals and 31 assists in 81 games that put him in the conversation for the Selke Trophy. This year he has 10 goals and 34 points through 58 games.