Sunday in the NHL | Hurricanes beat Islanders 5-2

Max Domi gave the team the lead early in the third period and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 on Sunday.

The Hurricanes earned their fourth straight victory and extended their lead over the New York Rangers to the top of the Metropolitan Division to four points.

The Hurricanes set team records for most wins (52) and points (112) in a season. Both records were set in 2005-06, when the Carolina squad lifted the only Stanley Cup in team history.

Seth Jarvis, Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast and Brendan Smith also moved the ropes for the Hurricanes.

Pyotr Kochetkov stopped seven of eight shots aimed at him for a second career NHL victory in 24 hours. He relieved Antti Raanta, who was injured in the second period.

Ross Johnston and Ryan Pulock replied for the Islanders, who suffered a fifth straight loss. Semyon Varlamov saved 29 pucks.

Michael Dominski, Associated Press

Avalanche lose 4-1 to Jets

Adam Lowry, Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor scored within 3 minutes and 21 seconds in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets upset the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Sunday.

Nikolaj Ehlers also hit the target late in the third period for the Jets (36-32-11), which snapped a four-game losing streak.

JT Compher also scored in the third period for the Avalanche (55-18-6), who have lost their last four games in regulation – a team high this season.

Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for the Jets in his 65^and meeting of the season and its 380^and with the club. Hellebuyck passed Ondrej Pavelec and is the single-handed No. 1 player in games played with the organization (formerly the Atlanta Trashers).

Darcy Kuemper stopped 40 shots for the Central Division champions.

The Canadian Press

Lightning end Panthers winning streak

Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos each had two goals and two assists, Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 37 shots and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers and ended their all-time-best 13-game winning streak of the club – prevailing 8-4, Sunday.

Victor Hedman had four assists for the Lightning. Nicholas Paul, twice, Brayden Point and Cal Foote also hit the mark for the Tampa squad.

Jon Cooper’s squad are still trying to get second in the Atlantic Division to get first-round home advantage. The Panthers are already guaranteed to finish first in said section.

Even though the Lightning’s next game is at home, the team didn’t head to Tampa. The 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup champions will visit the White House to celebrate their coronations with US President Joe Biden on Monday.

Sam Reinhart scored his 30^and and 31^and net of the campaign for the Panthers, who also saw Brandon Montour and Mason Marchment thread the needle.

Spencer Knight gave up after giving up five goals on 17 shots. Sergei Bobrovsky made 13 relief saves.

Associated Press

Alex Ovechkin injured, Capitals lose in shootout

The Washington Capitals lost the services of Alex Ovechkin and suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night.

Ovechkin was injured when he crashed hard against the boards early in the third period. He left the game and the Capitals ruled it was an upper body injury.

This blow for the Capitals is accompanied by the fact that they missed a great opportunity to climb the Eastern Conference standings. They are only one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Washington squad let slip a two-goal lead and Alex Kerfoot ended the argument in the seventh round of the shootout.

Ilya Mikheyev, Ilya Lyubushkin and Jason Spezza hit the target in regulation time for the Maple Leafs, who are just a win or loss away from the Tampa Bay Lightning from securing home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs in the Atlantic section.

TJ Oshie, Lars Eller and Marcus Johansson lined up for the Capitals, who aren’t sure if their captain will have to miss playing time.

Erilk Kallgren stopped 34 pucks in 65 minutes for the Maple Leafs. Vitek Vanecek made 27 saves in a losing cause.

Stephen Whyno, Associated Press