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NHL: Panthers hit season best beating Rangers

Florida Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun, left, blocks a shot by the New York Rangers' Sean Avery, No. 16, during the second period of their NHL game in Sunrise, Florida, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

The Florida Panthers claimed their NHL season-best sixth straight win and handed the New York Rangers their first regulation loss in more than a month, 3-2 on Friday.

After goals by Rostislav Olesz and Jassen Cullimore, Olli Jokinen scored a power-play goal 7:12 into the third period for Florida, three behind eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Dan Girardi and Scott Gomez scored for the sixth-place Rangers, who hadn't lost since Feb. 7.

Sabres 7, Hurricanes 1

At Buffalo, New York, Derek Roy had two goals and an assist, giving new life to Buffalo's playoff hopes and ending Carolina's five-game winning streak.

The Sabres scored four goals on their first seven shots, snapping a four-game skid and creeping within two points of eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Adam Mair had a goal, two assists, and a fight in a penalty-filled game.

Scott Walker spoiled Ryan Miller's shutout bid, scoring a short-handed goal on an odd-man rush with 8:30 left. Miller made 27 saves.

Capitals 4, Thrashers 1

At Washington, Brooks Laich scored two goals and Alex Ovechkin and Matt Cooke each had a goal and an assist to lead Washington over Atlanta.

Laich, who had never scored twice in his first 214 NHL games, has multigoal efforts in three of the past nine.

Ovechkin, the NHL leader in goals and points, gave Washington a 4-1 lead with his 57th goal and 99th point. He assisted on Laich's first of the game.

Slava Kozlov scored for Atlanta.

Blackhawks 6, Blue Jackets 3

At Columbus, Cam Barker, Patrick Kane and Andrew Ladd paced Chicago with a goal and an assist each, and the Blackhawks snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Columbus.

Duncan Keith, Dave Bolland and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for Chicago, who jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period.

Fredrik Modin, Dan Fritsche and Rick Nash tallied for the Blue Jackets, who have won only one of nine home games.
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