Brandon Manning’s first NHL goal, which came midway through the second period, snapped a tie and powered the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night.
Nick Cousins, Sam Gagner and Claude Giroux also scored for Philadelphia, who won for the 10th time in 13 games. The surging Flyers closed within one point of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia trailed the Islanders by three points for the first wild-card position. The Flyers are 2-1-0 against New York this season with one game remaining.
Photo: AP
Kyle Okposo scored for New York, while Thomas Greiss stopped 21 shots.
RANGERS 4, PANTHERS 2
Rick Nash scored his first goal since returning from a leg injury, while Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves in leading the New York Rangers over Florida.
Viktor Stalberg, Mats Zuccarello and Tanner Glass also scored for the Rangers, who moved two points ahead of idle Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Nash gave New York a 3-1 lead 11 minutes, 14 seconds into the third period with his 13th goal of the season and first since returning to the lineup on March 12. He had been sidelined since Jan. 22 because of a bone bruise.
Vincent Trocheck and Jiri Hudler scored for the Panthers, who lost their second in a row.
The Atlantic Division leaders were two points in front of Tampa Bay.
PREDATORS 5, KINGS 2
Ryan Johansen had a goal and two assists to lead Nashville past Los Angeles.
James Neal added a goal and an assist for the Predators, winners in three of their past four. Mike Fisher, Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi also scored.
Kings defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez each contributed a goal, but Los Angeles had their four-game winning streak snapped. Anze Kopitar had two assists.
MAPLE LEAFS 5, FLAMES 2
William Nylander had a goal and two assists in Toronto’s victory over Calgary.
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