Shorthanded goal helps Isles prevail
Johnny Boychuk picked a great time for the first shorthanded goal of his career.
The defenseman scored early in the third period as the New York Islanders defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 on Friday.
“It was a good win for us, especially at home,” said Boychuk, who has 38 career goals. “We need to get as many home points as we can while we have this home stretch.”
The Islanders won for the second time in three home games after opening with two road losses.
Boychuk’s goal at 4:24 of the final period — with teammate Calvin de Haan in the penalty box — came after Brock Nelson won a face-off in the Coyotes’ zone and sent the puck back to Boychuk at the point. Boychuk fired a shot that found its way past goalie Louis Domingue for his first goal of the season.
“He won the face-off clean and it was rolling,” Boychuk said. “It took a 12-to-6 curveball and went in.”
Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock played only five shifts in the first period before leaving with a lower-body injury. Blue Jackets 3, Blackhawks 2: Zach Werenski and Nick Foligno each had a goal and an assist and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 shots to help host Columbus end its season-opening, twogame losing streak. Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray suffered what the team called an upperbody injury in the first period and did not return. He may have taken an elbow to the head. Red Wings 5, Predators 3: Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist as host Detroit won its third in a row. Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller, Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm also scored and Petr Mrazek stopped 30 shots for the Red Wings. Gretzky back on ice: Wayne Gretzky will make a rare return to the ice Saturday to play alongside other former Edmonton Oilers against Winnipeg Jets alumni as part of the Heritage Classic weekend in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Gretzky, 55, retired in 1999 as the NHL’s all-time leader with 894 goals.
“I mean, I skate once a year. I just really never find the energy, the enthusiasm to grab my equipment and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to play pickup hockey,’ ” Gretzky said. “I think when you play in the National Hockey League — you play with the best players and against the best players — it’s hard to go play Friday night hockey.”
The outdoor alumni game is the second for Gretzky. He played in the 2003 Heritage Classic between former Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. Briefly: Philadelphia forward Dale Weise was suspended for three games for a check to Anaheim defenseman Korbinian Holzer’s head Thursday . ... Dallas placed forward Patrick Sharp on injured reserve because of concussionlike symptoms. Sharp was hurt Thursday when he was checked by Los Angeles defenseman Brayden McNabb . ... Washington coach Barry Trotz said forward Daniel Winnik lost a part of his right ear when he was stuck in the head while blocking a shot in a 4-2 victory over Florida on Thursday. Winnik briefly left the game before returning to the ice. “He got the puck sort of in the ear hole and it sort of pinched off his ear,” Trotz said. “Trainers looked at him, and he was fine, just missing a piece of his ear. It got chewed up a bit. It’s just a small piece, but it got chewed up.”