Panarin sets up Blue Jackets for victory
Artemi Panarin was the perfect setup man Friday night.
The 26-year-old forward had a record-tying performance with five primary assists, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils and a split of their home-and-home series.
Panarin dominated throughout and equaled the club mark for assists set by Espen Knutsen against Calgary on March 24, 2001. The five points also tied the Blue Jackets’ mark for a single game, accomplished for the fifth time.
“I’m very happy. However, I try to keep my emotions in check,” Panarin said. “Tomorrow’s another game and I know this is just a sport and sometimes you do the same and it doesn’t result in a goal.”
Panarin’s big night helped the Blue Jackets regain a share of the Metropolitan Division lead with Washington. Both teams have 37 points in a crowded race, one more than New Jersey. CAPITALS 4, RANGERS 2 >> Matt Niskanen scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:22 remaining and Washington beat New York to continue its climb up the Metropolitan Division standings.
Braden Holtby made 27 saves for the Capitals, who have won four in a row and seven of eight.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 36 shots in his first game back after a brief illness. BLACKHAWKS 3, SABRES 2, OT>> Gustav Forsling scored on a screen shot from the blue line with 4.9 seconds left on the clock in overtime, and Chicago rallied to snap a five-game losing streak.
Forsling had two assists in regulation, and Corey
Crawford stopped 26 shots, including a penalty shot by Jack Eichel. GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, PREDATORS 3, SO >> Malcolm Subban won a matchup of siblings, making 41 saves and then denying all six shootout attempts to lead Vegas over Nashville and star defenseman P.K. Subban.
Reilly Smith scored the only goal of a six-round shootout for the Golden Knights. William Karlsson, James Neal and Erik Haula scored in regulation to help Vegas win its third straight game.
Calle Jarnkrok, Viktor Arvidsson and Nick Bonino had the goals for Nashville, which had won three in a row.
It was the first time the Subbans faced each other in an NHL game. According to the NHL, they became the 10th set of brothers to play against one another with one a skater and the other a goaltender.
WILD 3, DUCKS 2, OT >> Defenseman Matt Dumba scored at 3:43 in overtime, leading Minnesota over Anaheim.
Adam Henrique tied it midway through the third period for the Ducks.
Salary cap to rise
Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters at the conclusion of the league’s board of governors meeting that the projected salary cap for 2018-19 will be somewhere between $78 million and $82 million, up from the current $75 million.
“The league has never been healthier,” Bettman said. “The game has never been healthier. Our franchises have never been healthier. Our fan base has never been better.”
Bettman said hockeyrelated revenue will be around $4.54 billion this season, an 8.2-percent increase.