Kreider’s hat trick paces Rangers’ win

Chris Kreider had a hat trick to set his career high with 29 goals, tying for the NHL lead, and the host New York Rangers scored six consecutive goals to beat the Arizona Coyotes 7-3 on Saturday night for their eighth win in 11 games.

Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba scored twice as New York improved to 12-3-2 at home and recovered from an early 3-1 deficit after being outshot 16-4 in the first period by the last-place Coyotes.

Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves for his sixth straight win and 10th victory in 11 games, improving to 19-4-2 this season.

Kreider scored shorthanded at 11:30 of the second period to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Julien Gauthier tied it at 15:22 with his third goal of the season and first since Dec. 14.

Artemi Panarin put the Rangers ahead on the power play with his 11th goal at 16:33 of the second before Kreider scored again at 18:42 of the middle period to match his previous career high of 28 goals, which he had accomplished twice.

The 30-year-old forward then completed his hat trick — the fifth of his career — on the power play at 10:06 of the third

period. Kreider, on pace for 57 goals, has scored in five straight games and has 10 goals in his past nine. He is tied with Washington’s Alex Ovechkin for the NHL goals lead. Bruins 3, Jets 2: David Pastrnak scored a tie-breaking power-play goal early in the third period to give surging Boston a win over Winnipeg. Charlie Coyle and Oskar Steen also scored for Boston, which is 10-2 since New Year’s Day. Tuukka Rask made 21 saves for the Bruins in his third start after re-signing this month following offseason hip surgery.

Sabres 6, Flyers 3: Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson and Peyton Krebs each scored twice, and Buffalo handed visiting Philadelphia its 11th consecutive loss. The Flyers’ skid matches the Arizona Coyotes and New York Islanders for the longest in the NHL.

Avalanche 3, Canadiens 2: Gabriel Landeskog scored 1:16 into overtime and Colorado beat Montreal for its 15th straight win at home.

Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 1: Morgan Rielly had a goal and an assist and Petr Mrazek stopped 25 shots as visiting Toronto beat New York.

Devils 7, Hurricanes 4: Jesper Bratt scored the tie-breaking goal late in the second period and New Jersey rallied to beat visiting Carolina.

Capitals 3, Senators 2: Ovechkin scored his 28th and 29th goals of the season in the third period, Nicklas Backstrom pounced on a turnover to get the winner 1:13 into overtime and host Washington rallied to beat Ottawa. Backstrom also assisted on Ovechkin’s second goal,

Medical report: Buffalo right wing Jack Quinn is expected to be out for at least four weeks because of a lower-body injury, the team said on Twitter. The Sabres also announced that forward Vinnie Hinostroza (lower-body injury) was placed on injured reserve . ... Chicago placed two players on IR, wing Jujhar Khaira (lower-body injury) and defenseman Riley Stillman (shoulder injury) . ... Winnipeg captain Blaker Wheeler has been activated from IR . ... Arizona defenseman Dysin Mayo went into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols and Vancouver defenseman Ashton Sautner exited the protocols.

Briefly: Tampa Bay defenseman Cal Foote was fined $2,125 for cross-checking Anaheim’s Buddy Robinson during a game Friday . ... Edmonton forward Tim Soderlund was placed on unconditional waivers. The Oilers intend to terminate his contract.