Maple Leafs blow past Rangers
Toronto scores 4 goals in third period to break 1-1 tie, beat New York
Mitch Marner scored twice during a wild third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Saturday night.
The teams combined for six goals in the final period, including Marner’s empty-net goal with 20 seconds left after Chris Kreider cut the margin to 4-3.
Morgan Rielly had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Marleau and Andreas Johnsson also scored for Toronto (23-10-2). Frederik Andersen made 25 saves, and John Tavares and Johnsson each had two assists as the Leafs won their third straight game.
Neal Pionk and Kevin Hayes had a goal and an assist each for New York (15-13-5). Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves.
Sabres 3, Ducks 0: Linus Ullmark made 36 saves and Buffalo got goals from Rasmus Dahlin and Jeff Skinner in beating Anaheim. Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret was taken out of the press box on a stretcher early in the third period. It was unclear what happened to the 76-year-old Jeanneret, who opened the broadcast dressed in a red Santa Claus suit and a white beard. He has been the team’s play-by-play man since 1971 — the longest tenure with a single team in NHL history. Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart both had two assists and Connor Sheary added an empty-net goal as Buffalo snapped a two-game skid in the second game of a back-to-back.
Bruins 5, Predators 2: Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup after missing 16 games and scored two goals, reaching 300 for his career in leading Boston. Bergeron set up Brad Marchand’s tie-breaking score as Boston won for the sixth time in eight games. David Pastrnak had his team-leading 23rd goal and added two assists. Marchand had two assists and defenseman Charlie Mcavoy set up Bergeron’s first goal. Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots in his third start for Boston and assisted on Sean Kuraly’s empty-netter.
Penguins 3, Hurricanes 0: Sidney Crosby set up three goals and Matt Murray made 38 saves as Pittsburgh defeated Carolina. Jake Guentzel scored twice and Kris Letang added a goal for the Penguins, who won for the fifth time in six games. It was Murray’s second shutout in 14 starts this season. The Hurricanes lost for the fifth time in six games. Canadiens 4, Golden Knights 3 (OT): Phillip Danault completed a hat trick late in the third period, Paul Byron scored in overtime and the Montreal beat Vegas. Danault’s third score of the game came with 1:25 left in the third period, setting up Byron’s backhand goal 1:59 into OT. Former RPI star Brandon Pirri scored twice and Jonathan Marchessault also scored for Vegas.
Blues 3, Flames 1: David Perron had a goal and an assist and Jake Allen made 28 saves to lead St. Louis.
Capitals 4, Senators 0: Pheonix Copley made 35 saves for his first career shutout and Washington beat Ottawa.
Coyotes 6, Avalanche 4: Brad Richardson scored twice in the final 3:39 and Arizona defeated Colorado.
Kings 3, Sharks 2: Ilya Kovalchuk scored in overtime in his return from an ankle injury and lifted Los Angeles.
Panthers 2, Red Wings 1: Roberto Luongo made 33 saves and Florida defeated Detroit.
Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3: Cam Atkinson scored two goals and Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists as Columbus ran its winning streak to three games.
Stars 2, Wild 1 (OT): Alexander Radulov scored with 10 seconds left in overtime and Ben Bishop made 30 saves to lead Dallas past Minnesota. Jamie Benn also scored for Dallas.