Vancouver’s backup goalie Cory Schneider made 43 saves to preserve the Canucks’ 1-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday, extending their dominance of the fading Avalanche.
Chris Higgins scored a short-handed goal in the first period and that was enough for Vancouver, who also won their previous game 1-0.
Vancouver moved within two points of Western Conference-leading St Louis with five games remaining.
Photo: AFP
RANGERS 4, JETS 2
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, New York moved to the top of the standings with a win over the fading Winnipeg Jets.
Ryan Callahan and Michael Del Zotto each had a goal and an assist, while Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan also scored for the Rangers, who lead Pittsburgh by five points in the Eastern Conference.
New York are tied with Western Conference-leading St Louis with 105 points, but the Rangers have the edge because of one more non-shootout victory.
Spencer Machacek and Bryan Little scored for the Jets, who are 10 points off the final playoff-yielding position in the East. Winnipeg went 0-4 against New York this season.
KINGS 3, FLAMES 0
In Calgary, Alberta, Jonathan Quick stopped 19 shots for his team-record ninth shutout of the season as Los Angeles beat Calgary to move into the eighth place in the West.
Willie Mitchell, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams scored for the Kings.
With eight shutouts, Quick had been tied with Rogie Vachon, who set the Kings’ mark in the 1976-1977 season.
Los Angeles blanked their opponent for the 10th time this season to tie another club record set in 2000-2001.
The Flames are three points behind the Kings with four games remaining.
DUCKS 3, SHARKS 1
In Anaheim, California, Teemu Selanne scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period as Anaheim dealt a blow to San Jose’s playoff ambitions.
Jonas Hiller made 28 saves, Bobby Ryan also scored and Corey Perry scored his 36th goal of the season into an empty net for the Ducks, who notched their fifth win in six meetings with their California rivals this season.
Anaheim also knocked the Sharks out of first place in the Pacific Division as Dallas (89 points) moved ahead of San Jose (88), Los Angeles (88) and Phoenix (87) in a remarkable four-team race for a division title and just three probable playoff spots.
The Sharks’ loss also clinched a playoff berth for the Nashville Predators, who are fifth in the Western Conference.
Ryane Clowe scored for the San Jose Sharks, who had won three straight.
STARS 3, OILERS 1
In Edmonton, Alberta, Michael Ryder scored twice and added an assist to lift Dallas over Edmonton and to the top of the crowded Pacific Division.
Mike Ribeiro also scored and had two assists for the Stars (42-30-5), who moved back into first place in the Pacific — one point ahead of Los Angeles and San Jose, and two points in front of Phoenix.
Ales Hemsky had the lone goal for the Oilers.
BLUE JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 2
In Columbus, Ohio, the hosts avenged a rout by Detroit two days earlier by beating Columbus.
Blue Jackets third-string goalie Allen York stopped 29 shots in his first NHL victory in an emergency start. Vinny Prospal and Derek Dorsett scored in the first period, and Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger added goals in the second.
Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall scored for the Red Wings.
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