Kris Versteeg scored 59 seconds into the third period, while Patrick Kane added two more goals as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St Louis Blues 4-1 on Wednesday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Marcus Kruger also scored for Chicago, and Antti Raanta had 40 saves in his first start since Corey Crawford was sidelined by a left foot injury. Versteeg also had the primary assist on each of Kane’s goals.
Back at home after a 5-1 road trip, Chicago killed off each of St Louis’ six power plays and won for the seventh time in eight games.
Ian Cole scored in the second for the Blues, who had won four of five. Jake Allen made 29 saves. Martin Brodeur was the backup to Allen in St Louis’ first game since the NHL’s winningest goalie signed a one-year contract on Tuesday.
WILD 2, CANADIENS 1
In St Paul, Minnesota, Jason Zucker and Jason Pominville scored improbable goals to lift Minnesota over Montreal. Darcy Kuemper stopped 18 shots after allowing four goals in each of his last two starts. Minnesota have won seven of 10.
Alex Galchenyuk scored in the final minute after Montreal pulled goalie Carey Price, who made 33 saves. The Canadiens are 1-3-1 in their past five games.
Playing with heavy hearts one day after the death of Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau, the Canadiens dedicated the game to the longtime captain who won 10 Stanley Cup titles as a player and seven more as an executive. All Montreal players wore No. 4 on their helmets.
Other than getting the first six shots of the third period, the Canadiens provided little offense against a team missing their top defenseman, Ryan Suter.
Suter sat out due to illness, marking the first time the NHL leader in ice time has missed a game since joining the Wild on July 4, 2012. He had played in 153 consecutive regular-season games and 18 more in the post-season.
DUCKS 5, FLYERS 4, SO
In Anaheim, California, Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry scored in the shootout as Anaheim rebounded from Wayne Simmonds’ late tying goal for a victory over spiraling Philadelphia.
Simmonds scored his second goal with 2.6 seconds left in regulation for the Flyers, who lost their ninth consecutive road game.
Frederik Andersen made 31 saves for Anaheim, stopping Claude Giroux to end the shootout.
Patrick Maroon scored in the third period for the Ducks, who pulled even with Tampa Bay atop the overall NHL standings with their fifth win in seven games.
Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf also scored for Anaheim, 0who came back from a two-goal deficit while the clubs combined for six goals in an entertaining second period.
Michael Raffl and R.J. Umberger also scored in the second period for Philadelphia. Steve Mason stopped 29 shots in the Flyers’ sixth straight defeat overall — and their second straight heartbreaker following a last-minute loss in San Jose on Tuesday night.
JETS 3, OILERS 2, OT
In Winnipeg, Canada, Mathieu Perreault scored 17 seconds into overtime as Winnipeg sent Edmonton to their 11th straight loss.
Perrault tipped Jacob Trouba’s point shot past goalie Ben Scrivens to win it. Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for the Jets.
Teddy Purcell Perron and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had goals for the Oilers (6-15-5), who have not beaten a Western Conference opponent this season.
Edmonton’s longest winless streak is 14 games from Oct. 11 to Nov. 7, 1993.
Ondrej Pavelec made 24 saves in the win. Scrivens stopped 21 shots.
Perron had given Edmonton a 2-1 lead at 1 minute, 31 seconds of the third period when he capitalized on a Winnipeg turnover. Byfuglien tied it with 3:06 left in regulation when he redirected in Mark Stuart’s point shot. He also assisted on Trouba’s goal.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely