Rangers finally get a win in Brooklyn
Goal off skate lifts N.Y. over intra-city rival Islanders
New York The New York Rangers knew all about their long-running struggles in Brooklyn. Any win over the Islanders these days was going to be welcome.
Mats Zuccarello’s well-placed skate sent the Rangers happily back to Manhattan.
Zuccarello scored late in the third period, redirecting a shot from the point with his foot to lift the Rangers over the Islanders 2-1 on Saturday for their first win at Barclays Center. Filip Chytil also scored and Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves to help the Rangers win in Brooklyn for the first time since their intra-city rivals began playing home games there in 2015.
The Islanders had been 13-2-0 in the teams’ previous 15 meetings overall.
The Rangers had been 0-6-1 in their previous seven games in Brooklyn, with their only point coming on Dec. 2, 2015 in a shootout loss.
Devils 3, Flyers 2: Rookie Mackenzie Blackwood, a former Albany Devil, returned to the lineup after missing three games with an injury and made 32 saves in leading New Jersey to a victory over Philadelphia. Damon Severson, Nico Hischier and Miles Wood scored as the Devils won for the second time in six games and handed the Flyers their ninth loss in the past 10 games (1-7-2). James Van Riemsdyk and Sean Couturier scored for Philadelphia.
Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 2: David Pastrnak scored a tiebreaking goal late in the second period and Boston defeated Toronto. Sean Kuraly had a goal and two assists, and David Krecji also scored for Boston. Tuukka Rask made 30 saves as the Bruins won the season series between the teams 3-1 and moved two points back of the Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. Mitch Marner and Andreas Johnsson scored for Toronto.
Lightning 5, Sabres 3: Steven Stamkos scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:16 remaining to lead Tampa Bay. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan also scored for the Lightning, who have won 18 of their past 20. Louis Domingue stopped 30 shots. Sam Reinhart, Tage Thompson and Marco Scandella had the goals for Buffalo, which lost for the second straight night. Linus Ullmark finished with 25 saves.
Canadiens 3, Avalanche 0: Carey Price stopped 28 shots for his third shutout of the season for Montreal. Brett Kulak, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordie Benn all scored in the third period for the Canadiens. Semyon Varlamov gave up two goals on 30 shots for the slumping Avalanche, losers of nine of their past 10.
Blue Jackets 2, Capitals 1 (OT): Cam Atkinson scored his 25th goal of the season, Artemi Panarin connected in overtime and Columbus beat Washington after the defending Stanley Cup champion lost All-star goaltender Braden Holtby to an eye injury. Holtby took a stick to the left eye from Atkinson through his mask in the second period. He left the game, giving way to backup Pheonix Copley, and the team said Holtby was still being evaluated.
Red Wings 5, Wild 2: Tyler Bertuzzi recorded his first career hat trick and Detroit ended a three-game losing streak. Thomas Vanek had two goals for the Red Wings, winners for the second time in 11 games. Nino Niederreiter and Luke Kunin scored for the Wild, who lost for the second time in three games and were booed by many fans remaining at the end.
Golden Knights 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT): Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore scored 1:19 into overtime when Chicago’s Carl Dahlstrom slid the puck into his own net, lifting the Golden Knights to a victory over the Blackhawks. Theodore was driving when Dahlstrom knocked it away and through the legs of goaltender Collin Delia.
Blues 3, Stars 1: Rookie goalie Jordan Binnington won his third straight start, Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals and St. Louis beat Dallas. Binnington, who made 21 saves, is 3-0 in three starts. The 25-year-old has allowed only two goals in those starts. Erik Condra scored for Dallas. Ben Bishop made 25 saves.