The Montreal Canadiens extended their winning streak to four games, edging the New York Islanders 3-1 on Friday.
The win moves the Canadiens (7-2-1) into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the idle Tampa Bay Lightning. The loss was the Islanders first at home in regulation time.
Benoit Pouliot scored the winner with 12 minutes, 41 seconds remaining in the third period as he was allowed to walk into the slot unchecked, before wristing a shot past Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson.
Alex Auld made 30 saves in his first game for Montreal and was especially sharp in the final two periods, turning aside 23 Islanders shots to earn the victory.
“It felt great.” Auld said. “Obviously, it’s fun to play and especially when you get the win.”
Tomas Plekanec opened the scoring for the Canadiens with a power-play goal in the first period to extend his scoring streak to four games and Matt Martin scored his first NHL goal for the Islanders to even the score in the second period.
Montreal’s Travis Moen scored the final goal into an empty net.
FLYERS 3, PENGUINS 2
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Claude Giroux scored short-handed and on a power play to help Philadelphia edge Pittsburgh.
Kris Letang gave the Penguins an early 1-0 lead, but they repeatedly squandered chances to take control by going zero-for-six on the power-play. They are zero-for-20 in four games, three of them losses.
With the score 1-1 late in the second period, Philadelphia’s Daniel Carcillo redirected a soft wrist-shot past the goalie’s pads and the Flyers never trailed again.
Giroux sealed it midway through the third with his sixth goal, punching the puck home after a scramble in front of the -Pittsburgh net in which three Flyers players had scoring chances. The power-play was created by a penalty for too many men on the ice.
Pittsburgh’s Tyler Kennedy scored a one-timer off Sidney Crosby’s cross-ice pass with 45 seconds remaining, but it was too late for the Penguins as they dropped their third in a row.
Philadelphia rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves.
OILERS 7, BLACKHAWKS 4
In Chicago, Edmonton snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and Jordan Eberle scored in a 1 minute, 9 second span late in the first period and Gagner added an empty-netter in the third.
Rookie Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist, while Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Jones also scored for Edmonton, who posted their first win since taking the opening two of the season. It was only the third win in regulation for the Oilers in their past 29 road games.
Patrick Sharp scored a power-play goal and added two assists for Stanley Cup Champions the Blackhawks. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Jake Dowell also scored for mistake-plagued Chicago.
HURRICANES 4, RANGERS 3
In New York, Erik Cole scored the go-ahead goal on a power-play with 3 minutes, 59 seconds left as Carolina downed New York.
Carolina’s Jeff Skinner, the youngest player in the NHL at 18 years, 5 months, drew the hooking penalty that set up the key power-play, then made the pass to set up a wide-open Cole for the winner.
Skinner had two goals himself.
Tuomo Ruutu also scored for the Hurricanes, while Ryan Callahan, Marc Stall and Brandon Dubinsky netted for New York.
Friday’s other results:
‧ Thrashers 4, Sabres 3, OT
‧ Devils 2, Ducks 1
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