Monday in the NHL | Zibanejad scores twice in Rangers win over Panthers

Mika Zibanejad had two goals to help the New York Rangers win 6-2 against the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Alexis Lafrenière got a sixth goal for the Rangers, who could count on 33 saves from Igor Shesterkin.

Lafrenière scored at 7:56 in the third period after a short scramble in front of the net, following a shot by Kaapo Kakko.

It was his first goal since Dec. 7 (he had since had six assists).

Adam Fox had one goal and two assists.

Jimmy Vesey and Filip Chytil were the other scorers for the New Yorkers, who are 15-4-2 since Dec. 5.

Rangers leader with 50 points, Artemi Panarin was an accomplice to three goals.

Shesterkin came close to scoring late in the game when Florida retired goaltender Alex Lyon. The puck missed the goal by only inches.

The Rangers will play their next game Wednesday in Toronto.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe fought back for the Panthers, who had won their last two meetings.

Allan Kreda, Associated Press

William Nylander leads Maple Leafs to win over Islanders

William Nylander had two goals and two assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Monday night.

John Tavares, who had a goal and an assist, Calle Jarnkrok and Auston Matthews also scored for the Maple Leafs (29-11-8). In the win, Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves and Justin Holl had two assists.

Anders Lee scored both goals for the Islanders (23-21-5), who are 1-6-3 in their last 10 games. Goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin blocked 33 shots in the loss.

Trailing 2-1 in the second period, the Maple Leafs tied the game at 7:53 on the power play.

Samsonov took advantage of a long change on the side of the Islanders to make a quick recovery. Nylander quickly passed the puck to Tavares, who went alone to the opposing goal and put on his 21^e net of the season with a backhand shot.

The Maple Leafs took the lead less than two minutes later, when Nylander delivered a skillful pass to Jarnkrok, who collected his 11^e goal of the campaign.

Matthews sealed the game in the second half of the third period, scoring his 25^e of the season in a breakaway, on a pass from Holl.

The Islanders had however started the match well by opening the scoring with 22.2 seconds to go in the first twenty.

Lee took advantage of a loose puck in the slot to score his 16^e of the season, after Brock Nelson’s shot bounced off Samsonov’s shoulder and hit the post.

The Maple Leafs tied the game at 5:07 of the second period when Nylander scored his 25^e of the campaign following a fine individual effort by Tavares.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Owen Power gives Sabers victory

Owen Power scored his first goal of the season 56 seconds into overtime on Monday, giving the Buffalo Sabers a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

Power converted a pass from Tage Thompson, who also took part in Victor Olofsson’s net.

Thompson is sixth in the league with 63 points, including 31 assists.

Rasmus Dahlin also scored for the Sabers, who deserved a third straight win.

Craig Anderson made 29 saves. He was playing a 700^e career match, at age 41.

The Sabers were embarking on a four-game road trip that will also take them to St. Louis, Winnipeg and St. Paul.

Jamie Benn and Jason Robertson replied for the Stars, who had just posted two shutouts 4-0.

Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots for the Stars, who got the first 10 shots on goal of the game.

Associated Press