Penguins move into a playoff spot with win over Lightning
PITTSBURGH >> Michael Bunting snapped a tie with 5:28 left in the third period, and the Pittsburgh Penguins moved into a playoff spot with a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Referee Steve Kozari was taken off the ice on a stretcher after colliding with Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury 6:11 into the third period. Kozari was able to move his arms. Fleury did not return.
Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist for Pittsburgh, and Bunting also had two assists. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang also scored.
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 30 saves in his eighth straight start.
Pittsburgh posted its fourth straight win and improved to 6-0-2 in its last eight games overall. It is tied with Philadelphia for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, with the Flyers visiting Columbus on Saturday night.
BLACKHAWKS 3, STARS 2 >>
Connor Bedard, Andreas Athanasiou and Seth Jones scored in the second period, and Chicago stopped Dallas’ franchiserecord win streak at eight games with a victory over the Stars.
Petr Mrazek made 42 saves for last-place Chicago, which improved to 8-6-0 in its last 14 games.
JETS 4, WILD 2 >> Vladislav Namestnikov had a goal and two assists, linemate Alex Iafallo a goal and an assist, and Winnipeg beat Minnesota.
Kyle Connor and Morgan Barron also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for Winnipeg in the opener of a four-game trip.
SHARKS 3, BLUES 2 >> William Eklund scored in overtime to finish a hat trick, Devin Cooley made 34 saves in his first NHL win, and San Jose beat St. Louis.
Eklund buried a wrist shot on a 2-on-1 break 3:56 into overtime. The Sharks responded after the Blues came back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period on goals by Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn, who equalized at 17:31 after St. Louis pulled the goaltender for an extra skater.
BLUE JACKETS 6, FLYERS 2 >> Damon Severson and Zach Werenski each scored twice, Jet Greaves had 37 saves and Columbus extended Philadelphias’ skid to seven games with a win.
Erik Gudbranson and Nick Blankenburg also scored for the injury-ravaged Blue Jackets, whose lines included seven players who were playing for American Hockey League affiliate in Cleveland a month ago.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, CANADIENS 2 >> Auston Matthews scored his league-leading 64th goal of the season in a four-goal second period and Toronto defeated archrival Montreal.
Matthews hit the 100-point mark for the second time in his career and extended his point streak to 10 games in the process.