Read reports from Thursday’s NHL games.
Avalanche victory in Ottawa
Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, Lars Eller added a bizarre goal that made the difference, as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on Thursday.
Cale Makar had a goal and an assist, while Valeri Nichushkin and Evan Rodrigues also scored for the Avalanche, which won a fourth straight game. Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and Jonas Johansson stopped 31 shots.
Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Travis Hamonic and Brady Tkachuk replied for the Senators, who suffered a fourth straight loss. Tim Stützle had three assists and Mads Sogaard stopped 25 shots.
The Avalanche took the first seven shots on goal and led 2-0 before the Senators challenged Johansson for the first time after nearly eight minutes of play.
The visitors also scored three times in the second period, taking a 5-2 lead.
Eller was credited with a goal at 18:09 of the second period. The Senators believed the Avalanche had made an illegal punt, but the referees did not call a stoppage as the puck returned near Soogard’s pad. After a few seconds, Eller took advantage of the confusion and pushed the loose puck behind the goal line.
The Senators made it interesting in the third period, but Johansson did what it took to give the Avalanche the win. He notably managed an acrobatic stop with five seconds to go on the clock.
Darren Desaulniers, The Canadian Press
Rangers beat Penguins 4-2
PHOTO BRYAN WOOLSTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chris Kreider after giving Rangers the lead in the third period.
Chris Kreider put the team ahead in the third period, then added an empty-net insurance goal, and the New York Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Thursday.
Kreider moved the ropes at 11:45 of the final period, ignoring Brian Dumoulin’s cover to beat goaltender Tristan Jarry. Kreider then scored his 30e goal of the season with 50 seconds left on the clock.
Mika Zibanejad and Tyler Motte also scored for Rangers, who have won eight of their last 10 home games. Igor Shesterkin stopped 30 shots.
Penguins forward Jake Guentzel also hit 30 goals in the game. Rickard Rakell was the visitors’ other goalscorer, while Jarry made 31 saves.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had two assists.
The Rangers now have a 10-point lead over the Penguins in third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Allan Kreda, Associated Press
Lightning pull off 4-3 shootout win over Devils
PHOTO JOHN JONES, USA TODAY SPORTS
Alex Killorn scored in the shootout to secure the victory for the Lightning.
Alex Killorn ended the debate in the third round of the shootout on Thursday, allowing the Tampa Bay Lightning to win 4-3 against the New Jersey Devils.
His teammate Ross Colton had scored in the first round, before Yegor Sharangovich replied in the second round.
Colton also hit the target in regular time, where Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist.
Colton is originally from New Jersey.
Winning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves, 11 more than Akira Schmid.
Timo Meier had two goals and Tomas Tatar scored the other goal of the game.
Tampa Bay will host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Associated Press
Bruins win 3-0 in Winnipeg
PHOTO JOHN WOODS, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Pavel Zacha (18) and David Pastrnak (88) of the Boston Bruins.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 35 shots as the Boston Bruins prevailed 3-0 against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
Swayman got his third shutout this season and his eighth career.
Trent Frederic, Pavel Zacha and Tomas Nosek were the scorers.
Nosek completed the scoring in an empty net.
Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets, which are 4-9-2 since Feb. 20.
The Jets will play Saturday afternoon in Nashville, then Sunday night in St. Louis.
The Bruins are in the midst of a five-game road trip; they have one stop left in St. Paul and another in Buffalo over the weekend.
The Canadian Press