Rangers acquire big scorer Tarasenko in deal with Blues

Vladimir Tarasenko is going to the New York Rangers in a trade that answers another big move by a rival and sets the stage for more to come before the March 3 deadline.

The Rangers acquired the prolific scoring winger and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday for conditional 2023 firstand 2024 fourth-round picks, forward Sammy Blais and prospect Hunter Skinner.

Tarasenko gives New York even more of an offensive boost in the hopes of making another deep playoff run following a surprise trip to the Eastern Conference Final. The 31-year-old Russian has 29 points in 38 games this season but is also a proven scorer who has surpassed 30 goals six times in his NHL career.

Getting Tarasenko comes on the heels of the New York Islanders acquiring 30-goal-scoring center Bo Horvat from Vancouver and signing him to a $68 million, eight-year extension. LIGHTNING 5, AVALANCHE 0 >> Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves to stop an 84-game regular-season shutout drought, Branon Hagel had two goals and an assist, and Tampa Bay beat visiting Colorado. DEVILS 3, KRAKEN 1 >> Dougie Hamilton scored two power-play goals and New Jersey continued to roll despite playing without Jack Hughes for the first time this season, posting a victory over visiting Seattle. Mackenzie Blackwood, making only his fifth start since Dec. 23, was outstanding, making 34 saves as New Jersey improved to 10-1-1 in its last 12 games.

FLYERS 2, OILERS 1 >> James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Frost scored in the shootout, Carter Hart made 34 saves and Philadelphia picked up a home at home against Edmonton.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, WILD 1 >> Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist for Vegas and the Golden Knights cruised past the sputtering Wild at Minnesota.

CANUCKS 6, ISLANDERS 5 >> Elias Pettersson scored twice in the third period and Vancouver snapped a two-game skid with a victory at New York.

RED WINGS 2, FLAMES 1 >> Filip Zadina made a successful return to the Detroit lineup, scoring the go-ahead goal at 5:51 of the third period to lift the host Red Wings over Calgary. Zadina had not played since Nov. 5 because of a broken right leg.

PANTHERS 4, SHARKS 1 >> Sam Reinhart and Eric Staal each scored a pair of goals and Florida beat visiting San Jose for its season-high third straight win.

INJURIES >> The Kraken placed leading scorer Andre Burakovsky on injured reserve Thursday with a lower body injury. Burakovsky’s leg appeared to buckle on zone entry on his first shift of Tuesday’s game against the New York Islanders. He leads the Kraken with 39 points, including 13 goals and 26 assists, and is averaging a career-high 16 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time per game . ... Devils center Jack Hughes has an upper-body injury and is considered week to week.