Perry hat-trick lifts Ducks
ANAHEIM: Anaheim moved back into a tie for the NHL Eastern Conference lead by shutting out Toronto 4-0 on Wednesday, with Corey Perry scoring a hat-trick.
The Ducks moved level with Nashville on points atop the league standings, but have played two games more.
In the day’s other games, Washington scored the sole goal to beat Philadelphia, Montreal closed within a point of the Atlantic Division lead by winning at Columbus, and New Jersey scored three goals in 68 seconds to beat Los Angeles.
Anaheim goaltender Frederik Andersen made 28 saves while Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Ducks, who had lost their previous six against the Maple Leafs.
Perry capped his league-leading third hat-trick of the season with an empty-net goal, taking over the team lead with 18 goals this season.
Washington goalie Braden Holtby’s ironman run produced another shut-out as he made 21 saves in his 20th consecutive start, helping the Capitals beat Philadelphia 1-0.
Holtby put up his fourth blank slate of the season, including three since he became too hot to rest. He has played in 26 straight.
Jason Chimera’s first-period goal was all the the Capitals needed as they won a seventh straight home game.
Montreal’s Max Pacioretty scored two power-play goals, and PK Subban added another — all in a span of 3:53 of the third period — to lead the Canadiens to a comeback 3-2 victory at Columbus.
New Jersey’s 68-second goal rush came in the second period to set up a 5-3 win at Los Angeles, with Steve Bernier netting his first two power-play goals of the season.