Read the reports of the games played on Monday in the NHL.
Jets claim 6-2 win over Sharks
Josh Morrissey scored a goal and added two assists as the Winnipeg Jets took an important step towards qualifying for the National League Western Conference playoffs on Monday night with a 6-2 victory on the San Jose Sharks.
Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele all had a goal and an assist for the Jets (45-32-3). Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the other goal for the Manitoba team while Nino Niederreiter and Dylan DeMelo had two assists each.
At his 12e Starting straight in front of the Jets net, Connor Hellebuyck blocked 19 pucks.
Defender Erik Karlsson had both goals for the Sharks, his 24e and 25e of the season. He also reached the milestone of 100 points. He is the first defenseman since former New York Rangers Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to reach that milestone.
The Jets finished a five-game stint in front of their fans with a 4-1-0 record and are 6-3-0 in their last nine outings.
The Jets have 93 points and could earn the last playoff spot in the West if they get at least one point in their last two games of the season.
The Jets will end the season with games in Minnesota and Colorado.
James Reimer stopped 27 shots in front of the Sharks net.
The Canadian Press
Tavares scores in overtime and Maple Leafs stop Panthers 2-1
PHOTO SAM NAVARRO, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
John Tavares (91) of the Maple Leafs, after his winning goal
John Tavares hit the target with 21.3 seconds remaining in overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs posted a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night.
In addition to halting the Panthers’ six-game winning streak, the Maple Leafs’ win prevented the Florida team from qualifying for the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Panthers (42-31-8-92 points) would have earned their playoff berth with a victory in regulation or overtime, considering the New York Islanders lost in regulation to the Washington Capitals , Monday evening.
Auston Matthews scored the other Maple Leafs goal, his 40e of the season. Goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov blocked 45 shots.
Brandon Montour scored his 16e goal of the season, which allowed him to tie the record by a defender in team history.
Goalkeeper Alex Lyon made 23 saves but lost for the first time in seven straight starts to Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Panthers will play their last game Thursday night as they host the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Canadian Press
Islanders 2, Capitals 5
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Hudson Fasching (20) of the Islanders
In Washington, Ilya Sorokin allowed three goals on the first nine shots he faced behind a porous defense, and the New York Islanders’ hopes of making the playoffs suffered a major blow following a 5-game loss. -2 against the Washington Capitals.
The Islanders (41-31-9 -91 points) are down one point over the Panthers. Inactive on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-30-10-90 points) are one point behind the Islanders, but have two games to play against two of the NHL’s worst clubs, the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday and the Blue Jackets of Columbus, Thursday.
In the first 13 minutes of action, Sorokin conceded goals from Dylan Strome, Rasmus Sandin and Craig Smith. The Islanders’ defense, however, committed many turnovers that provided the Capitals with several good scoring opportunities.
The Capitals won despite Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie not in uniform.
The Islanders will play their last game of the schedule on Wednesday night, at home, against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadian Press