OT score lifts Wild past Ducks
Kirill Kaprizov scored 17 seconds into overtime to thrill the Minnesota crowd in a 43 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
Kaprizov, the rookie sensation with 27 goals this season, snapped a quick shot that was stopped by Anaheim goalie John Gibson, but drove the net and found the puck on a rebound and easily scored with Gibson unable to recover. The Wild started the day one point behind Colorado for second in the West Division.
“He’s a special player,” said teammate Joel Eriksson Ek, who was on the ice as Kaprizov scored. “Every time he gets the puck, you can feel it in the arena. It’s amazing the things he does. He’s just creating all the time, and it doesn’t really matter who’s close to him. He can create a lot and he’s been really good for us.”
Kaapo Kahkonen made 22 saves for Minnesota.
Victor Rask, Nico Sturm and Ek also scored for Minnesota.
Stars 5, Lightning 2: Joe Pavelski had two goals and two assists to help keep Dallas’ postseason hopes alive with a victory in Tampa. The win moved Dallas within two points of Nashville heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
The Stars play Chicago on Sunday and Monday, while the Predators host
Carolina, which clinched its first division title since 2006 on Friday with Tampa Bay’s loss, on Saturday and Monday.
Roope Hintz added a goal and two assists for Dallas, which ended a fivegame winless streak. Joel Kiviranta and Jamie Oleksiak also scored, and Anton Khudobin made 26 saves.
Golden Knights 4,
Blues 3: Jonathan Marchessault scored with 17 seconds left in overtime to lift host Vegas past St. Louis. Reilly Smith, Alec Martinez and Nic Roy scored in regulation for Vegas, which won after trailing by two goals for the sixth time this season.
The Golden Knights also inched closer to winning their third division title in four seasons since joining the NHL in 2017.
Avalanche 3, Kings 2:
Mikko Rantanen scored his 30th goal of the season, Cale Makar had a goal and an assist and visiting Colorado beat Los Angeles.
Flyers 4, Capitals 2:
Falling flat after an emotional week, Washington cost themselves their easiest path to a division title and showed worrying signs with playoffs approaching with a loss to the Flyers.
The Capitals missed their chance to reclaim first place in the East Division. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by two points with two games left on their regularseason schedule.
Red Wings 5, Blue Jack
ets 2: Thomas Greiss made 22 saves and Detroit scored three goals in the second period to win in Columbus, Ohio.