Read the reports of the games played Friday in the NHL.
Samuel Blais scores two goals for the Blues
Samuel Blais scored twice as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Friday night.
The Capitals missed an opportunity to close in on a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. They are five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders, the two teams currently drafted.
In his first start of the season for the Blues, young goaltender Joel Hofer saved 33 pucks. He was able to play due to the suspension issued to Jordan Binnington.
Jordan Kyrou, Kasperi Kapanen and Brayden Schenn also found the back of the net for the Blues. Jakub Vrana, who was drafted by the Capitals, got an assist against his former team.
Martin Fehervary and Nicklas Backstrom replied for the Capitals. Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 21 shots.
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press
Zach Aston-Reese scores twice in Maple Leafs win over Hurricanes
PHOTO NICK TURCHIARO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Zach Aston-Reese (12) of the Toronto Maple Leafs tries to clear the puck from the stick hands of Shayne Gostisbehere (41) of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Zach Aston-Reese scored twice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 on Friday night.
Morgan Rielly, who added an assist, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner provided the rest of the goals for the Leafs, along with 31 saves from Ilya Samsonov. John Tavares prepared two goals for his own.
Brady Skjei and Martin Necas replied for the Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 19 shots.
The Leafs wore their green and white Toronto St. Pats jerseys — a nod to the club’s nickname from 1919 to 1927 — on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Leafs opened the scoring early in the first period when Aston-Reese deflected a point shot from Erik Gustafsson for his sixth goal of the season.
Marner made it 2-0 when he rounded Necas to score his 25e aim.
Skjei closed the gap for the visitors two minutes later when he fired a shot that pierced Samsonov.
The Leafs regained a two-goal cushion later in the period on the power play when Tavares saw his shot hit a Hurricanes stick and bounce off Matthews for his 32e goal of the season
The Hurricanes were down to just one goal midway through the second period when Necas netted their 26e of the season.
Aston-Reese scored his second of the night on a two-on-one with Sam Lafferty for his first two-goal performance in the same game since October 21.
Rielly then scored his fourth of the season to put things out of reach.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
Owen Tippett records a hat trick
PHOTO KYLE ROSS, USA TODAY SPORTS
Philadelphia Flyers Owen Tippett (74) controls the puck to beat the Buffalo Sabers in the third period.
Owen Tippett scored the first hat trick of his career as the Philadelphia Flyers edged the Buffalo Sabers 5-2 on Friday night.
James van Riemsdyk and Joel Farabee also moved the ropes for the Flyers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
In the Philadelphia Troops victory, Carter Hart made 34 saves while Tony DeAngelo and Kevin Hayes both had two assists.
Victor Olofsson scored both goals for the Sabers, who lost for the eighth time in their last 11 outings. Veteran Craig Anderson allowed five goals on 22 shots.
The Sabers saw their chances of making the playoffs take a hit. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders six points for a spot among the Eastern Conference draft teams.
The Flyers started the night with the fifth-lowest point total in the NHL. This victory put them ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in this regard.
Aaron Bracy, Associated Press