DeBrusk returns, lifts Bruins
BOSTON — Jake DeBrusk scored two minutes into his first game in six weeks, Trent Frederic had a pair of goals and Linus Ullmark stopped 26 shots to lead the Boston Bruins to a 6-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Nick Foligno, Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Zacha also scored for Boston, which has won four of its last five games to amass 89 points and the NHL’s best record.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored and Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves for the Islanders, who beat Pittsburgh on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
DeBrusk missed 17 games with hand and leg injuries after being hurt during the Jan. 2 Winter Classic, but returned to score a powerplay goal on his second shift back, taking a pass from Brad Marchand and flipping it through Varlamov’s legs.
Devils 5, Penguins 2:
Nico Hischier had two goals and two assists, Vitek Vanecek made 29 saves and New Jersey breezed past Pittsburgh. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist for New Jersey. Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton also scored for the Devils, while All-Star center Jack Hughes had two assists in his return from a lower-body injury as New Jersey improved to an NHLbest 21-4-3 on the road. Evgeni Malkin scored twice for Pittsburgh to reach the 20-goal plateau. Dustin Tokarski stopped 38 shots but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Penguins lost for the third time in four games.
Predators 7, Panthers 3:
Tommy Novak scored twice and Roman Josi scored a goal and added two assists to lead Nashville over Florida. Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist and Matt Duchene, Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin also scored for Nashville, which had lost three of its previous four. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves for the Predators and Ryan McDonagh had three assists, equaling a career high.
Bowen Byram scored twice, and Mikko Rantanen scored his 200th career NHL goal to help Colorado beat St. Louis to remain in third place in the Central Division. Valeri Nichuskin
Avalanche 4, Blues 1:
also scored, and Justus Annunen stopped 19 shots in his season debut to give Colorado its third win in its last four games.
Blue Jackets 4, Stars 1: Adam Boqvist broke a tie early in the third period and last-place Columbus beat struggling Dallas.
Note: The St. Louis Blues are looking to the future after trading captain and center Ryan O’Reilly along with center Noel Acciari to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. St. Louis acquired Toronto’s 2023 first-round draft pick and 2024 second-round draft pick and Ottawa’s 2023 third-round pick from the Maple Leafs along with AHL forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette. Toronto also traded its 2025 fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild for the rights to forward prospect Josh Pillar in exchange for the Wild picking up 25% of O’Reilly’s salary.