COLUMBUS, Ohio – Marek Svatos scored twice in a 3-minute span of the third period to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
With the score tied 1-1 and the Avalanche on the power play, Svatos took a quick centering pass from behind the goal from Brett McLean and went high over goalie Marc Denis’ glove side at the 1:08 mark.
Joe Sakic then dug the puck off the wall and sent an ideal setup pass to Svatos in the high slot that he converted for his 32nd goal of the year at 3:58.
Flyers 5, Capitals 4
PHILADELPHIA – Sami Kapanen scored the go-ahead goal and Brian Savage had two power-play scores, leading the injury-depleted Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-4 over the undermanned Washington Capitals on Friday night.
Playing without star center Peter Forsberg and six other regulars, the Flyers won their second straight game to remain one point behind the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers with one game left before the Olympic break.
Simon Gagne scored his 36th goal and Donald Brashear also scored for Philadelphia, which is 6-7-3 after a 9-0-2 stretch.
Rookie sensation Alexander Ovechkin scored his 35th goal and Brian Sutherby, Brian Willsie and Dainius Zubrus added goals for Washington, which is tied for the third-fewest points in the NHL.
Rangers 4, Maple Leafs 2
NEW YORK – Jaromir Jagr scored twice and added an assist in New York’s four-goal second period, and rookie Henrik Lundqvist won his 25th game as the Rangers rallied to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 Friday night.
Jagr connected twice on the power play and got New York even at 1 and 2 in a 2:45 span of the middle frame. His first goal moved him past New York Islanders great Mike Bossy into sole possession of 16th place on the NHL career list. His second – No. 575 – was his league-leading 38th of the season.
Penguins 4, Hurricanes 3
RALEIGH, N.C. – John LeClair whipped in a rebound for the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the second period, Sidney Crosby added his 27th of the season and the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Friday night. Sebastien Caron stopped 34 shots for the Penguins, who still have the worst record in the NHL despite winning on the road for the first time in more than a month. Yet they came up with an inspired effort against the top team in the Eastern Conference to end Carolina’s nine-game winning streak at home, a franchise record.
It was the first loss at the RBC Center for the Hurricanes since New Year’s Eve, when Philadelphia handed them their third in a row overall. That’s also the most recent time they have lost consecutive games.
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