St. Louis ends year on up note

Like a tax deduction, Ryan O’Reilly squeezed in his first home goal of the season just before the New Year.

In the Blues’ final home game of the 2019 calendar year, O’Reilly scored late in the first period to give the host Blues a 1-0 lead on the Winnipeg Jets.

And that proved to be a good omen, as the Blues ran their winning streak to eight games with a 4-1 win.

Jaden Schwartz got what proved to be the game-winner late in the second period, Robert Thomas provided some cushion with a rebound roof shot on the power play the third period.

Schwartz then added an empty-netter in the final minute.

Devils

Jack Hughes scored 54 seconds into overtime and New Jersey beat the Ottawa Senators, 4-3. Kyle Palmari passed to Hughes near center ice. Hughes broke loose with the puck on his backhand. He switched to the forehand and flipped the puck over Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson for his sixth of the season.

Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored shootout goals to lift Chicago to a 3-2 win against the host Columbus Blue Jackets. Chicago goalie Robin Lehner stopped Nathan Gerbe in the third round of the tiebreaker to seal the win. Lehner finished with 31 saves through overtime.

Maple Leafs

Jake Muzzin is week to week for Toronto with a broken foot. The defenseman was injured blocking a shot in a 5-4 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils Friday. He played the remainder of the game. Muzzin, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 28, has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 38 games this season.