Av’s Varlamov gets 4th shutout
DENVER — Semyon Varlamov made 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Friday night.
Jarome Iginla, Maxime Talbot and Gabriel Landeskog had goals for the Avalanche.
Colorado is two points behind Calgary for the second wild-card position in the Western Conference but has played one more game than the Flames.
Colorado improved to 8-3-3 in its last 14 games and has moved into fifth place in the Central Division. The Avalanche earned three of a possible four points against the divisionleading Predators.
Nashville’s Marek Mazanec made 25 saves in his first start of the season..
BLACKHAWKS 4, DUCKS 1: In Anaheim, Calif., Patrick Kane had two goals and an assist, and Patrick Sharp assisted on every Chicago goal in a victory over Anaheim.
Captain Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks, who beat the NHL-leading Ducks for the third straight time at Honda Center.
BLUES 3, HURRICANES 2: In Raleigh, N.C., Kevin Shattenkirk scored in the shootout as St. Louis beat Carolina for its fourth straight win.
Ryan Reaves and David Backes scored in regulation for the Blues, and Jake Allen made 26 saves before stopping all three Carolina shooters in the tiebreaker.
PENGUINS 2, DEVILS 1 (OT): In Newark, N.J., defenseman Simon Despres scored 2:21 into overtime as Pittsburgh rallied late to beat New Jersey.
Chris Kunitz tied the game with a power- play goal with 3:11 left in regulation, spoiling a magnificent performance by New Jersey’s Cory Schneider, who made 41 saves.
MIKITA: The family of Stan Mikita said Friday that the Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famer has been diagnosed to have a suspected brain disorder and is “facing some serious health issues.” The family offered no other information other to say he may suffer from Lewy body dementia.
Mikita, 74, played his 22-season career for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1958-80.