Consult the reports of the games played Friday in the NHL.
Charlie Lindgren still undefeated
Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and Charlie Lindgren turned back 26 shots in an identical victory to the St. Louis Blues’ last game of 4-1 still over the Dallas Stars.
Lindgren has increased his record to 5-0 since his recall to compensate for multiple injuries to the Blues goaltenders. Jordan Binnington has nevertheless returned in the role of auxiliary to the former Montreal Canadiens.
Logan Brown and Ivan Barbashev scored and Pavel Buchnevich notched two assists for the Blues, who won for the fifth time in six games. The Blues have amassed a point in their last seven games (5-0-2) and for a ninth successive home game (8-0-1).
Jason Robertson found the back of the net and Braden Holtby stopped 30 shots for the Stars. This is the fifth consecutive loss for the cast of Rick Bowness. The Stars’ offense is running out of power, it has scored just three goals in its last four games.
The Stars failed to capitalize on their three power play and came close to allowing a goal with a man advantage. Buchnevich was treated to a penalty shot where his backhand shot hit the post head-on.
The Stars have regained the services of Roope Hintz and Alexander Radulov, both kept out since they were ill.
Joe Harris, Associated Press
Jonathan Marchessault gives victory to Knights
PHOTO BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Jonathan Marchessault scored his team’s winning goal in overtime.
Jonathan Marchessault scored in the third wave of the shootout and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night.
Brett Howden had a goal and an assist as Dylan Coghlan added a goal in regulation for the Golden Knights, who posted a fourth straight victory.
Laurent Brossoit turned away 27 pucks for the Las Vegas roster, who have won seven of their last eight games.
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider both had one goal and one assists for the Rangers, who have lost four of their last six games after enjoying a seven-game winning streak.
Alexandar Georgiev, who was making a sixth start to replace injured Igor Shesterkin, blocked 28 shots.
After Golden Knights forwards Nicolas Roy and Evgenii Dadonov as well as Rangers forwards Kaapo Kakko and Zibanejad were stopped in the first two rounds of the shootout, Marchessault hit the nail on the head. Brossoit confirmed the victory of his own by closing the door to Ryan Strome.
Vin A. Cherwoo, The Canadian Press
The Penguins defeat the Sabers 3-2
PHOTO CHARLES LECLAIRE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Jeff Carter (center) scored the winning goal in overtime.
Jeff Carter redirected Kris Letang’s pass between Malcom Subban’s pads at 2:53 into overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabers 3-2 on Friday night.
The Penguins extended their winning streak to six, which was their best streak this season. The team needed the support of their NHL’s best penalty kill early in overtime as Carter blew a Sabers’ skates with five seconds left in the third period. Carter redeemed his odds by providing the winning net.
Evan Rodrigues has hit the target for the 10th time this season, a career high for him. Brock McGinn, who has scored three goals in his last four games, was the author of the Penguins’ other goal.
The Sabers snatched a point for Subban’s brilliance in net. He turned back 45 shots, a career high for him, in his second start with the Sabers. He was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this month.
Zemgus Girgensons scored his sixth goal of the season for the Sabers. Rasmus Dahlin tied the game with 5:18 left in the third period when he beat Tristan Jarry with a precise shot in the near top corner.
Jarry stopped 19 shots and was flawless in overtime to allow the Penguins to sell off a 35th consecutive penalty. The Penguins are 11-2-1 in their last 14 games.
Will Graves, Associated Press
Jets lose 5-2 to Capitals
PHOTO JAMES CAREY LAUDER, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Capitals players feast at the end of the game.
The Washington Capitals marred Dave Lowry’s debut as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets.
Michael Sgarbossa and Alex Ovechkin put the finishing touches in an empty net and the Capitals defeated the Jets 5-2 on Friday night.
Brett Leason, Daniel Sprong and Conor Sheary also hit the mark for the Capitals. Goalkeeper Vitek Vanecek blocked 40 of 42 shots aimed at him.
Brenden Dillon and Josh Morrisey replied for the Jets, who saw Connor Hellebuyck stop 24 pucks.
Lowry, the former assistant in Winnipeg, received a promotion after head coach Paul Maurice suddenly resigned from his post on Friday morning.
The Capitals took a 3-2 lead midway through the third period when Sheary jumped on a throw-back to beat Hellebuyck. Defensemen Justin Schultz and Dennis Cholowski got an assist on the game.
The Canadian Press
Predators triumph over Blackhawks
PHOTO DAVID BANKS, USA TODAY SPORTS
Tanner Jeannot played the heroes in overtime and allowed the Nashville Predators to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday night, despite a screaming understaffing.
The Predators have won their seventh straight game, even though they have eight players on the COVID-19 roster. Defender Mark Borowiecki was kept out of the game given a positive COVID-19 result received 90 minutes before the start of the game.
The entire coaching staff is out of the squad’s fold due to COVID-19. For the second straight game, Predators school club coach Karl Taylor acted as head coach. He and his Milwaukee assistant Scott Ford are in charge of several players from their regular squad, having been called up to the NHL as well.
Thomas Novak and Colton Sissons were the Predators’ other scorers.
Since Nashville can’t count on the backing of three of their top four scorers, they put up a tight game on defense, allowing just 19 shots. In return, they directed 31 on the net of Marc-André Fleury.
Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach stirred the strings for the Blackhawks.
Tim Cronin, Associated Press