Thursday in the NHL | Leafs 4-1 win over Jets

Auston Matthews and Ilya Samosonov secure victory for Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews scored twice early in the second period and Ilya Samosonov dazzled as he stopped 37 shots in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.

Mitch Marner and Mark Giordano, in an empty net, completed the scoring for the Leafs. Michael Bunting was an accomplice to two goals.

Kyle Connor replied for the Jets, who got 23 saves from Connor Hellebuyck.

The Jets, who are No. 1 in the West, led the game in first, outshooting the Leafs 16-6, butting Samsonov’s brilliance. Still, it was the Leafs who got the best chance, when Matthews hit the crossbar over Hellebuyck’s shoulder on a breakaway.

Matthews finally found the back of the net after just eight seconds in the second, beating Hellebuyck between the pads. The Leafs made it 2-0 less than four minutes later when Bunting spotted Matthews who trumped the opposing keeper for his 24^e of the season.

The Leafs added to their lead before the end of the period. Shorthanded, Marner scored his 17^e to make it 3-0, picking up a point in a 20^e back-to-back game at home, improving his own mark.

The Jets will ultimately need a two-man power play in the third to get past Samsonov, as Connor scored his 23^e.

The Canadian Press

Oilers sign fifth straight win

Zach Hyman scored twice and the Edmonton Oilers continued their success by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night.

Connor McDavid, who also had an assist, gave the Oilers a 4-3 lead early in the third period. He got at least one point in a ninth straight game.

Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist as Ryan McLeod scored once for the Edmonton squad, which posted a fifth straight victory.

Jack Campbell held the fort and added the win to his record with 28 saves.

Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos found the back of the net for the Lightning, who had won their last five games.

Victor Hedman set up two goals for his team while Andrei Vasilevskiy blocked 29 shots for the Lightning.

The Canadian Press

Ducks win 5-3 over Blue Jackets

Cam Fowler, Trevor Zegras and Adam Henrique all had a goal and an assist as the Anaheim Ducks came from behind to win 5-3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The Ducks rallied from a three-goal deficit to end a five-game losing streak.

The Anaheim squad scored three goals in the second period before scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. It’s the Ducks’ fifth victory this season after coming back from an NHL-high tie with the New Jersey Devils by more than one goal.

Simon Benoit and Max Jones also scored for Team California as Troy Terry and Isac Lundestrom both had two goals.

John Gibson replaced Anthony Stolarz and he was perfect in front of 18 shots to help the Ducks win.

Mathieu Olivier, Jack Roslovic and Nick Blankenburg hit the target for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves.

Nicole Kraft, Associated Press

Blackhawks end long drought in Philadelphia

Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist to guide the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

Prior to Thursday’s victory, the Blackhawks hadn’t won in Philadelphia since Nov. 9, 1996. The drought comes with an asterisk, however, as the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in front of Flyers fans in 2010.

Reese Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Philipp Kurashev in an empty net also shone the red light for the Chicago squad, which has won five of its last six outings.

Petr Mrázek was one of the great architects of this victory for the Blackhawks, saving 37 pucks.

Morgan Frost replied for the Flyers, who lost just the third time in 11 games. Carter Hart blocked 25 shots.

Aaron Bracy, Associated Press

Bruins triumph over Rangers

Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves as the Boston Bruins triumphed 3-1 over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Pavel Zacha, Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton have moved the ropes for the Boston team, which has won eight of its last nine games.

Brad Marchand and David Krejci have both contributed to two goals for the Bruins, who are 15-1-3 in their last 19 outings.

Swayman was going for a shutout when Rangers defender Ben Harpur beat him with 4:23 remaining in the game. The Bruins goaltender, however, has improved to 6-0-2 in his last eight starts.

The Bruins are 36-5-4, the best in the NHL, while the Rangers suffered a second straight loss at home.

Igor Shesterkin allowed three goals and 27 shots in net for the New York squad.

Allan Kreda, Associated Press

Hurricanes beat the Wild 5-2

Defenders Brent Burns, Brady Skjei and Jalen Chatfield found the back of the net and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Thursday night.

Both Burns and Skjei hit the target in a three-goal second period for the Hurricanes. Chatfield added a goal in the third period.

The Hurricanes started the game with 20 goals and 67 points from defensemen since Nov. 25, which is the third best production in the NHL behind the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers.

Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas also darkened the scoresheet for North Carolina’s roster. Frederik Andersen made 30 saves.

Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy scored for the Wild, who had won their last three games and had at least one point in their last six road games.

Marc-André Fleury stopped 24 shots for the Wild.

Aaron Beard, Associated Press

Sabers beat Islanders 3-2

Dylan Cozens ended the debate from the 12^e second of overtime and the Buffalo Sabers beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Thursday night.

Alex Tuch and Victor Olofsson also threaded the needle for the Sabers, who had lost five of their last six outings. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 24 saves.

Cozens accepted a pass from Rasmus Dahlin and broke away before beating goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin. This was his 15^e goal of the campaign.

Brock Nelson and Matt Martin scored for the Islanders, who suffered their seventh loss in eight games. Sorokin stopped 42 pucks.

The two teams were tied 1-1 late in the second period when Martin gave the Islanders the lead after receiving a pass from Casey Cizikas.

Olofsson brought both teams back to square one midway through the third period, when he eluded Sorokin’s vigilance with an accurate shot.

Joe Yerdon, Associated Press

Blues win 5-2 over Predators

Robert Thomas and Brendan Saad both had a goal and an assist as the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Thursday night.

Jordan Binnington made 24 saves to tie Grant Fuhr for fourth in Blues history with 108 career wins.

Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou and Alexey Toropchenko also moved the ropes for the St. Louis squad.

Colton Sissons, who was competing in a 500^e career game in the NHL, and Mattias Ekholm provided the answer for the Predators.

Juuse Saros allowed five goals on 33 shots in net for the Predators.

Warren Mayes, Associated Press

Capitals blank Coyotes 4-0

Darcy Kuemper was perfect in front of 26 shots and the Washington Capitals shut out the Arizona Coyotes 4-0 on Thursday night.

Former Coyotes Dylan Strome hurt his former team by hitting the target on two occasions.

Sonny Milano and Tom Wilson have also found the back of the net for the Capitals, who have won nine of their last 10 away games.

Kuemper, who played for the Coyotes from 2017 to 2021, improved his career record to 6-1-3 against his old team.

The Coyotes have lost 10 of their last 11 games, but saw their nine-game losing streak come to an end Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Karel Vejmelka allowed four goals on 33 shots in a losing cause.

Jack Thompson, Associated Press