Toronto scored four times in the third period to beat Anaheim 6-2 on Wednesday, pushing the Maple Leafs winning streak to six games, while ending the streak of the NHL-leading Ducks at eight.
Anaheim’s league lead was cut to two points ahead of Chicago, who won a tight game against Minnesota. Chicago kept their nose in front in the tightly contested Central Division, while St Louis and Nashville kept up the pressure by defeating Los Angeles and Boston respectively.
Toronto’s four third-period goals came via two from Phil Kessel and one each from David Booth — his first of the season — and Nazem Kadri. Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul had scored earlier for the Maple Leafs.
Photo: AFP
Sami Vatanen and Ryan Kesler netted for the Ducks, who suffered their first loss this month.
St Louis also scored four third-period goals to overwhelm Los Angeles 5-2.
Vladimir Tarasenko had a hat-trick for the Blues to push his season goal total to 20.
Photo: AFP
St Louis had lost seven of their previous eight encounters with the Kings, but the late surge pushed the Blues to a fifth-straight win.
Chicago’s Patrick Kane scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 3 minutes, 28 seconds left as the Blackhawks beat Minnesota 5-3.
Chicago’s Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists. Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook also scored, while Ben Smith added an empty-net goal for the surging Blackhawks, who have won 13 of 15.
Thomas Vanek scored a first-period goal for the Wild, and tallies from Nino Niederreiter and Marco Scandella had tied the game at 3-3.
Nashville’s Derek Roy scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Predators a 3-2 victory over Boston.
Mike Fisher and Mike Ribeiro had goals in regulation for Nashville, and in the tiebreaker Roy almost lost the puck on his approach, but beat the goaltender with a backhand.
Milan Lucic and Reilly Smith scored for the Bruins, who have lost six of seven.
Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson scored second-period goals to lead the Lightning over Philadelphia 3-1.
Valtteri Filppula added an empty-net goal for the Lightning.
Wayne Simmonds scored his sixth goal in as many games for Philadelphia, who had not lost in regulation in the previous five games, but came up against a familiar stumbling block in Tampa Bay, who have beaten the Flyers six straight times.
Columbus beat Detroit 1-0 after a shootout, extending their winning streak to seven straight games.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots through overtime and two more in a shootout.
Boone Jenner and Ryan Johansen both scored in the tiebreaker for Columbus.
Florida’s Nick Bjugstad scored the winning goal in the longest shootout in NHL history — 20 rounds — to lift the Panthers to a win over Washington 2-1.
New York’s Rick Nash scored two goals to reach 20 for the season, helping the Rangers beat Calgary 5-2.
Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele scored twice and added an assist as the Jets beat Buffalo 5-1, ending the Sabres’ four-game streak.
Montreal’s Alex Galchenyuk scored his first NHL hat-trick as the Canadiens beat Carolina 4-1.
Arizona ended a team-record run of nine successive home defeats by beating lowly Edmonton 2-1 thanks to Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s goal with 0.3 seconds left in overtime.
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