Wild top Avalanche behind Zuccarello’s three points
Mats Zuccarello scored the deciding goal and had two assists to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night in NHL preseason play in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Zuccarello, signed to five-year, $30 million free agent contract by the Wild on July 1, assisted on goals by Jason Zucker and Eric Staal in the second period. Matt Dumba also scored for Minnesota, and Devan Dubnyk had 30 saves.
Ty Lewis, Jayson Megna and Conor Timmins scored for Colorado, and Pavel Francouz stopped 22 shots.
The game was Wild captain Mikko Koivu’s first since last February, when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. Koivu had two penalty minutes and blocked a shot in 16:41.
Blue Jackets beat Penguins
In Columbus, Ohio, Joonas Korpisalo stopped 24 shots and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1.
Cam Atkinson, Eric Robinson and Josh Anderson scored for the Blue Jackets. Robinson’s goal 2:12 into the third gave Columbus the lead. Anderson added an empty-netter with 36 seconds left.
Juuso Riikola scored for Pittsburgh, and Casey DeSmith finished with 19 saves.
Capitals hold off Hurricanes
In Washington, Brian Pinho scored two goals, including the game-winner 8:31 into the third period to help the Washington Capitals top the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.
Brett Leason also scored for Washington, and Ilya Samsonov finished with 13 saves.
Anton Forsberg and James Reimer each played half the game in goal for Carolina. Forsberg started and allowed two goals on 10 shots. Reimer was charged with the loss, despite stopping 9 of 10 shots.
Brock McGinn and Janne Kuokkanen scored third period goals for the Hurricanes.
Hayers helps Flyers beat Rangers
In Philadelphia, Kevin Hayes scored against his former team, Jake Voracek had a goal and two assists and the Flyers beat the New York Rangers 4-1.
James van Reimsdyk and Carsen Twarynski also scored for Philadelphia. Carter Hart stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first two periods, and JF Berube had seven saves in the third.
Nick Jones scored for the Rangers and Igor Shesterkin stoped 36 shots.
It was the first time Hayes and Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault faced the Rangers since their departures. Vigneault was fired following the final game of the 201718 season and Hayes was traded to Winnipeg on Feb. 25.
Hayes’ rights as an impending free agent were dealt to Philadelphia after the season and he subsequently signed a new deal.
Devils beat Islanders
In Newark, New Jersey, Jesper Boqvist scored twice to help the New Jersey Devils beat the New York Islanders 4-3.
Nikita Gusev and Will Butcher also scored for New Jersey, and Cory Schneider had 42 saves.
Leo Komarov, Mathew Barzal and Otto Koivula scored for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss started and gave up three goals on 11 shots through the first two periods, and Jared Coreau made nine saves in the third.