Bruins unbeaten at home
BOSTON — David Krejci scored a go-ahead, power-play goal and the Boston Bruins remained unbeaten in regulation at home with a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
David Pastrnak also had a powerplay goal, Taylor Hall scored on a delayed penalty and backup goalie Jeremy Swayman, wearing new dark-tan pads, made a season-high 30 saves for Boston.
The NHL-best Bruins honored captain Patrice Bergeron for reaching 1,000 career points last month during an on-ice pregame ceremony.
Boston improved to 16-0-2 at TD Garden, with both losses coming in a shootout.
Boone Jenner had a power-play goal, Patrik Laine scored and Daniil Tarasov stopped 35 shots for Columbus, which has lost three straight and six of eight.
Krejci’s go-ahead goal late in the second was a bit of redemption. Columbus had tied the game 1-all while he was in the penalty box for high sticking. Just under four minutes later, he moved Boston ahead 2-1 on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Charlie McAvoy.
Hall extended the margin to 3-1 at 12:41 of the third period and Tomas Nosek scored 19 seconds later.
Pastrnak’s 20th goal made it 1-0 at 7:17 of the opening period, the seventh straight season he’s reached that mark.
Senators 6, Red Wings 3: Drake Batherson had two goals, Claude Giroux snapped a third-period tie and Ottawa beat Detroit for its fourth consecutive victory. Thomas Chabot, Tyler Motte and Austin Watson also scored for the Senators, who improved to 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Alex DeBrincat had three assists for the second consecutive game while extending his point streak to eight in a row. Brady Tkachuk also had three assists, and Cam Talbot made 29 saves. Ottawa scored three power-play goals and two more short-handed. Joe Veleno, Adam Erne and Filip Hronek scored for the Red Wings, who are winless in their last five games. Ville Husso recorded 22 saves.
Ducks 4, Oilers 3: John Klingberg scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Lukas Dostal stopped 46 shots and Anaheim beat Edmonton. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist, and Sam Carrick and Cam Fowler also scored for the Ducks. Mason McTavish had two assists.
The 22-year-old Dostal set a new career high for saves — topping his previous best of 35 set in his season debut on Dec. 12 —while making his sixth career start.
Note: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo returned to practice Saturday morning after a nine-game absence he took when his 4-year-old daughter became seriously ill. Pietrangelo said he felt comfortable that his daughter, Evelyn, was progressing well enough that he could return in time for Saturday night’s home game against the New York Islanders. He said Evelyn came down with the flu over Thanksgiving and then developed encephalitis, which created a lesion on her brain. That caused her to lose her motor skills, including not being able to open her eyes for the first five days. He said they “tried a course of treatment” that a week later eliminated the brain lesion. “I don’t want to say a surprise, but that progressed a lot quicker than I guess the original diagnosis,” Pietrangelo said. “They can’t really give you a timetable when your precious little girl is going to get better. It’s pretty scary for Mom and Dad, so I said I wouldn’t go back to work until I feel comfortable with where she is at home.” Pietrangelo said his daughter returned home Wednesday from a Las Vegas hospital, and the next morning said she wanted to walk. “We were thinking this could be months down the road,” Pietrangelo said. “(Friday), she just kept walking and walking in circles for a full day. God answered our prayers. It’s a miracle how much she’s come along in the last 48 hours.” He said Evelyn still faces months of rehabilitation.