Read the reports of the games played Friday in the NHL.
Blue Jackets win 3-1 over Flames
Patrik Laine scored on the first shot of the game for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Friday night.
Eric Robinson and Sean Kuraly also scored for the Blue Jackets, who snapped a three-game losing streak and six-game losing streak at home.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 12 shots in the first half before sustaining a lower body injury. Elvis Merzlikins replaced him and he blocked 21 pucks.
Michael Stone was the lone scorer for the Flames, who had won their last three outings.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 shots in his first start after watching the last three games from the end of the bench.
Laine opened the scoring from the 62e second of the first engagement. Robinson scored the winning goal on a breakaway, 2:52 into the second period.
Nicole Kraft, Associated Press
Rangers triumph in shootout against Avalanche
PHOTO DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
There was a lot of action near the Avalanche net in the third period.
Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin scored in the shootout to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Braden Schneider scored in regulation and Igor Shesterkin stopped 41 shots as well as the Avalanche’s two shootout attempts. The Rangers won their third straight game after five losses in six games.
Mikko Rantanen retaliated for the Avalanche and Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves against his former team. Colorado, plagued by a series of injuries to key players, lost four in a row and was beaten 16-5 on aggregate.
Associated Press
Ovechkin and Mantha help Capitals win 4-1 over Kraken
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin
Anthony Mantha and Alex Ovechkin both had a goal and an assist to guide the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Friday night.
Marcus Johansson and Lars Eller also scored for the Capitals, who won their last three games for the first time this season.
Charlie Lindgren stopped 25 of 26 pucks in the win.
Ovechkin scored one of the Capitals’ two empty-netters. This was his 796e career NHL goal and he is just five shy of tying Gordie Howe for second most in history.
Adam Larsson deprived Lindgren of a shutout and Philipp Grubauer stopped 34 shots for the Kraken, which suffered a third straight loss.
Sammi Silber, Associated Press
Wheeler and Rittich shine in win over Blackhawks
PHOTO NAM Y. HUH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Rittich and Michael Eyssimont of the Winnipeg Jets
Blake Wheeler scored early in the second period, David Rittich stopped 22 shots and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Friday for their fourth straight win.
Cole Perfetti and Adam Lowry also hit the target and Josh Morrissey had two assists to help the Jets. The Manitoba team won for the seventh time in eight games and reclaimed the top spot in the Central Division from the Dallas Stars.
Taylor Raddysh scored midway through the second period and the Blackhawks avoided a third straight shutout. Arvid Soderblom finished with 29 saves in the 11e loss in 12 games for the Blackhawks.
Tim Cronin, Associated Press
Carter plays heroes in overtime against Sabers
PHOTO JEFFREY T. BARNES, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tristan Jarry, Jeff Carter and Jake Guentzel celebrate their overtime victory.
Jeff Carter scored with a man advantage 1:36 into overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins capitalized on Jeff Skinner’s ejection to defeat the Buffalo Sabers 4-3 on Friday.
Skinner was ejected for cross-checking Jake Guentzel in the face with 22 seconds left.
Skinner, who will automatically face an NHL disciplinary hearing for the cross-check, and Guentzel also received minor penalties for slashing.
The two teams meet Saturday night in Pittsburgh.
Guentzel, Rickard Rackell and Brock McGinn also hit the mark for the Penguins, who have won four straight games and improved to 11-2-2 in their last 15 games, a streak that immediately followed a 0-0 streak. 6-1.
Tristan Jarry stopped 28 shots to improve to 8-0-2 in his last 10 starts and 12-3-3 overall.
Casey Mittelstadt was instrumental in all three goals for the Sabers, who lost while leading after two periods for the first time this season. The Sabers had won their previous 10 games when leading early in the third period.
Kyle Okposo forced overtime by scoring a power play goal 90 seconds from time. Skinner and Victor Olofsson also hit the mark. Craig Anderson stopped 28 shots.
Associated Press
Nelson scores twice in win over Devils
PHOTO ADAM HUNGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The New York Islanders, following their victory over the New Jersey Devils
Brock Nelson scored twice, Cal Clutterbuch had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the Devils 6-4 on Friday, handing the New Jersey squad its second regulation loss in 21 games.
Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas and Oliver Wahlstrom also scored, while Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had two assists.
The Islanders are 8-2-0 in their last 10 trips to the Prudential Center. Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves.
Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Nico Hischier, Tomas Tatar and Dawson Mercer also rattled the ropes for the NHL point guards. Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt and Jonas Siegenthaler each had two assists.
Vitek Vanecek started the game and allowed four goals on 17 shots before being pulled early in the second period. In relief, Akira Schmid made 13 saves.
Associated Press