Blackhawks tame Bruins
Pens, Ducks surge
CHICAGO, April 4, (Agencies): Patrick Kane had three goals and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks raced to a six-goal lead in the second period before hanging on for a 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins.
Kane’s scoring spree gave him 100 points for the first time in his nineyear NHL career. The win was career No. 800 for Chicago coach Joel Quenneville.
Kane, the NHL’s leading scorer, was clicking with linemates Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov during the club’s fourth win in five games. Panarin had a goal and three assists, while Anisimov added a goal and two assists.
Jonathan Toews also scored for the Blackhawks, who won’t finish lower than third in the Central Division and will avoid a wild-card playoff seeding.
Kane’s second career regular-season hat trick — both this season — lifted him to 43 goals, the most for a Chicago player since Tony Amonte hit that mark in 19992000. He’s the first Blackhawk to reach 100 points since Jeremy Roenick had 107 in 1993-94.
Washington Capitals’ Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes’ Viktor Tikhonov (9), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game on April 2, in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes
defeated the Capitals 3-0. (AP)
scoring in a three-goal first period, Anders Nilsson made 19 saves in relief of an injured Jake Allen, and St Louis beat Colorado as the Avalanche moved to the brink of postseason elimination.
Magnus Paajarvi, Colton Parayko and Alex Pietrangelo also scored for the Blues, who are chasing Dallas for the Central Division title and trying to stay ahead of Chicago. Troy Brouwer added an empty-netter with 2:55 remaining.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mark Scheifele scored his team-leading 27th goal and Winnipeg beat Minnesota, giving Jets fans something to cheer about in the club’s last home game of the season.
Minnesota dropped its third straight and squandered a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
Chris Thorburn ended a 47-game goal drought for Winnipeg with his sixth of the season. Andrew Copp, Drew Stafford and Blake Wheeler, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Jets. Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves.
The Los Angeles Kings recalled defenseman Kevin Gravel from the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League, the team announced Sunday.
The 24-year-old Gravel appeared in four games during his first NHL call-up in February, including his first NHL game on Feb 11. He is still looking for his first NHL point.
The Calgary Flames assigned forward Emile Poirier to the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.
Poirier, 21, has played in two games for the Flames, with two penalty minutes.