The red-hot Chicago Blackhawks scored three quick goals in the final period to claim a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday that extended their winning streak to seven games.
Ryan Johnson, Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane each scored in a 4:32 span early in the third period to give the Blackhawks a 5-1 lead that proved too much for Carolina to overcome.
“It was a one-goal game, it’s a hockey game,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We got comfortable and relaxed and probably took it off the gas in the last two games. We stayed with it pretty well [Friday] and did what we had to do. It was a good game.”
Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell scored Chicago’s other goals in the first period.
With the win, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks moved into fourth place in a tight Western Conference where four points separate Chicago and 11th-place Minnesota.
“Even with this seven-game streak any night we can be out [of the playoffs] and any night we can be fourth or fifth,” Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook said. “We have to continue to roll and we have to continue to play hard and come out with a full 60 minutes every night.”
The loss for Carolina, which got a first period equalizing goal from Eric Staal and a late consolation from Jeff Skinner, prevented them from pulling away from the teams chasing them for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Carolina have 71 points with Buffalo and Toronto only three and four points back in ninth and 10th places.
“We just kind of collapsed, I guess,” Hurricanes center Brandon Sutter said.
“Through two periods we didn’t have our best game, but our goalie made some saves to keep us in it. We just kind of collapsed. We started cheating a little bit and weren’t playing good defensively. They’re going to capitalize on that,” he said.
DEVILS 2, PENGUINS 1, OT
In Newark, New Jersey, Ilya Kovalchuk scored on a power play with 24.9 seconds left in overtime as New Jersey continued their remarkable playoff push with a victory over Pittsburgh.
The goal was the second straight winner for the US$100 million man, his sixth in the last 12 games and his ninth of the season. New Jersey won for the 19th time in 23 games (19-2-2) and handed the injury ravaged Penguins their eighth loss in 10 games (2-5-3).
Travis Zajac scored in regulation for the Devils and Martin Brodeur made 25 saves.
Tyler Kennedy scored for Pittsburgh, which continues to play without Sidney Crosby (concussion).
RANGERS 4, SENATORS 1
In Ottawa, Derek Stepan had a goal and an assist, and Mats Zuccarello and Artem Anisimov scored 12 seconds apart in the second period as New York beat Ottawa to end a three-game losing streak.
Vinny Prospal also scored to help New York move into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a point ahead of Carolina. The Hurricanes played at Chicago on Friday night.
Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves in his 11th consecutive start. The NHL leader with eight shutouts, he lost his bid for another 4:56 into the third on Sergei Gonchar’s power-play goal.
FLAMES 4, BLUE JACKETS 3
In Calgary, Alberta, Miikka Kiprusoff became the first goalie in 25 years to stop two penalty shots in a game and finished with 37 saves, leading Calgary past Columbus.
It’s the first time a goalie has turned aside two penalty shots in an NHL game since Detroit’s Corrado Micalef stopped Pierre Larouche and Mike Ridley of the New York Rangers on Feb. 16, 1986.
Rene Bourque and Curtis Glencross scored power-play goals in a 1:21 span midway through the second period with Columbus’ Antoine Vermette serving a double-minor for high-sticking to make it 4-2.
Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen scored first-period goals for Calgary. Vermette, Craig Rivet and Jan Hejda scored for Columbus.
In Friday’s other game, it was:
‧ Ducks 4, Stars 3, OT
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