Quebecer Anthony Mantha scored two goals in the first period and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Blue Jackets 7-2 on Thursday in Columbus.
It was a 14th game of at least two goals for Mantha in career, but a first in the uniform of the team of the American capital.
Martin Fehervary, Alexander Ovechkin, Connor McMichael, Connor Sheary and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for the visitors, who claimed a third victory in a row. Sheary’s goal, 7:18 into the third, was scored in an empty cage.
Vitek Vanecek certainly had a say in the win, as he blocked 39 pucks. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Patrik Laine were the two players to beat him.
Jonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins both allowed three goals in the loss. The former was taken out of the game after facing nine shots, and the latter was the target of 23 shots.
Andersen beaten by rookie
Against his former team, Frederik Andersen was unable to make a difference. He gave up three times on 21 shots as the Maple Leafs beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in Toronto.
Ilya Mikheyev, Mitch Marner and Ondrej Kase thwarted the Dane, who only received attacking support from Ethan Bear. Vincent Trocheck hit the target with four seconds left in a losing cause.
At the other end of the rink, Erik Kallgren recorded a second victory in as many National League starts with a 34-save performance.
In short
Chris Kreider reached 40 goals for the first time in his career in the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Islanders on Thursday in New York.