Ryan returns from leave with hat trick for Senators
Bobby Ryan recorded a hat trick in his first home game in more than three months, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Ryan entered the joint NHL/ NHLPA assistance program on Nov. 20 after admitting to having a problem with alcohol. He last played at home on Nov. 15.
Fans were quick to cheer Ryan on Thursday, giving him a standing ovation and chanting his name.
“I knew Ottawa being the community that it is that the reception would be good,” Ryan said. “It just got harder to keep the emotions down throughout the game. It was incredible. They supported me and I got to contribute. You can’t write that, the way that went. It was just an incredible evening, so thank you to all of them.”
Connor Brown and Rudolfs Balcers also scored as Ottawa snapped a fourgame winless streak. Marcus Hogberg made 32 saves.
J.T. Miller and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko stopped 21 shots. BRUINS 4, STARS 3 » Nick Ritchie had a goal and an assist for his first points since being acquired by Boston at the trade deadline, helping the Bruins snapped a two-game losing streak. BLACKHAWKS 5, LIGHTNING 2» Dominik Kubalik scored three goals in the third period to help Chicago rally from a 2-0 deficit and beat Tampa Bay. It was Chicago’s first regulation win over the Lightning since Dec. 13, 2009. BLUES 3, ISLANDERS 2, OT »
Defenseman Vince Dunn forced overtime late in the third period, and fellow blue-liner Colton Parayko scored on an unassisted wraparound at 3:23 of overtime to give St. Louis its sixth consecutive victory. MAPLE LEAFS 5, PANTHERS 3 » William Nylander scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift Toronto past Florida in a pivotal Eastern Conference battle. The Leafs pulled four points ahead of the Panthers in a tight race for a playoff berth. RANGERS 5, CANADIENS
2» Ryan Strome scored twice and added an assist and New York rallied to beat Montreal for its fifth straight victory. The red-hot Rangers pulled into a tie with Carolina, two points behind Columbus for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. The Rangers have won nine consecutive road games and are 9-1- 0 in their last 10 overall. PREDATORS 4, FLAMES 3, OT
» Mikael Granlund scored with a second left in regulation and netted the winner 1:20 into overtime to lift Nashville past Calgary in a showdown of the Western Conference’s two wild-card teams. Nashville won its third straight and improved to 6-1-1 over its past eight. JETS 3, CAPITALS 0 » Connor Hellebuyck stopped 34 shots for his fifth shutout of the season, leading Winnipeg over Washington. The Jets are tied for the second wild card with Nashville in the West, but have played three more games. WILD 7, RED WINGS 1 » Defenseman Matt Dumba had two goals and an assist in Minnesota’s victory over hapless Detroit.