Ehlers powers Jets past Leafs

TORONTO

Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Thursday.

Kyle Connor added two goals, including one into an empty net, to go along with an assist, while Mark

Scheifele had a goal and two assists for

Winnipeg (27-143). Neal Pionk chipped in with two assists as the Jets moved within three points of the Leafs for top spot in the North Division.

RANGERS 4, DEVILS 0

NEW YORK — Artemi Panarin had two goals and an assist, Igor Shesterkin got his second straight shutout, and New York beat New Jersey.

BRUINS 4, ISLANDERS 1

BOSTON — Taylor Hall scored his first goal for Boston and Tuukka Rask stopped 22 shots to earn his first victory since February.

SABRES 5, CAPITALS 2 WASHINGTON — Anders Bjork scored his first goal with his new team and added an assist, helping Buffalo spoil Nicklas Backstrom’s 1,000th game as the Sabres beat Washington.

CANES 4, PREDS 1 RALEIGH, N.C. — Warren Foegele scored the first of three Carolina goals in under eight minutes and the Hurricanes beat Nashville Predators to snap a two-game skid.

WINGS 4, HAWKS 1

DETROIT — Jakub Vrana scored in his Detroit debut, and Troy Stecher added two goals in a victory over Chicago.

CP PHOTO FRANK GUNN Winnipeg Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with teammate Mathieu Perreault (85) as Maple Leafs’ Justin Holl (3) skates past during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday.