Hurricanes continue playoff pursuit, defeat Blue Jackets
Late OT goal lifts Predators to victory
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jeff Skinner is just trying to keep up with his productive linemates. They’ve helped the Carolina Hurricanes keep pace in their push for an elusive playoff berth.
Skinner had a goal and two assists, linemate Victor Rask had two assists and an emptynet goal, and the Hurricanes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Derek Ryan, the third member of the Skinner-Rask line, also had a goal and an assist for Carolina.
“He played well. He creates stuff, he’s got good poise,” Skinner said of Ryan. “He’s playing with some confidence, and me and Rasky just had to keep up with him tonight.”
Jordan Staal scored the goahead goal on a deflection with 16:10 to play, and Brock McGinn added a goal for Carolina, which has earned points in 13 of 14 home games.
At the midpoint of the season, the Hurricanes moved within three points of a playoff berth with two games in hand. The Hurricanes haven’t made the postseason since 2009.
Cam Atkinson scored his 20th goal on the same day he was left off the All-Star team, and Josh Anderson and Brandon Saad also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have a league-best 60 points but have lost three of four since winning 16 straight.
PREDATORS 2, CANUCKS 1
(OT): In Nashville, Tenn., Calle Jarnkrok scored a short-handed goal with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Nashville to a win over Vancouver.
With time ticking down in the extra frame, Roman Josi blocked a shot from Troy Stecher just outside the crease of Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. Josi immediately took possession of the puck and went up ice on a 2-on-1 with Jarnkrok. In the low slot, Josi slid a pass to his right, where Jarnkrok was there to one-time the puck past Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller.
Austin Watson had the other Nashville goal and Rinne finished with 29 saves for the Predators. Brandon Sutter had the lone goal for Vancouver. BRUINS 5, BLUES 3: In St. Louis, Brad Marchand scored twice, including an empty netter, and David Backes got into a fight in his return to St. Louis as Boston beat the Blues.
Frank Vatrano, Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug also scored for the Bruins, who improved to 2-0-1 in their last three games. Tuukka Rask made 14 saves.
SABRES 4, FLYERS 1: In Buffalo, N.Y., Evander Kane scored to cap a three-goal second-period surge in leading Buffalo past Philadelphia.
Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists in extending Buffalo’s point-streak to 3-0-1 — the team’s best run of the season. William Carrier and Marcus Foligno, with an empty-net goal, also scored for the Sabres.
Goalie Anders Nilsson stopped 39 shots and had his shutout bid
foiled by Brayden Schenn’s power-play goal with 2:07 left. BLACKHAWKS 4, RED WINGS
3 (OT): In Chicago, Duncan Keith scored a power-play goal 38 seconds into overtime, lifting Chicago to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night for the Blackhawks’ fourth straight victory.
Richard Panik also had a goal and assist for Chicago, while Brian Campbell and Tanner Kero each scored. Ryan Hartman added two assists. Corey Crawford stopped 33 shots. SHARKS 5, OILERS 3: In Edmonton, Alberta, Mikkel Boedker scored three goals for his fourth career hat trick to lead San Jose to a victory over the Oilers.
Brent Burns and Logan Couture also scored for the Sharks.