ANAHEIM, California: Goalie Jonas Hiller captured his 14th consecutive victory and guided the streaking Anaheim Ducks over the Detroit Red Wings.
The Ducks (35-8-5) extended their unbeaten run in regulation at home to 19-0-2. They also swept the two-game series from the Red Wings (20-16-10). Anaheim recorded a 5-2 win at Detroit on December 17.
Anaheim remains the NHL’s hottest club, winning its seventh in a row and 17 of its last 18 games.
Andrew Cogliano’s second-period goal held up as Hiller earned the shutout despite several point-blank shots by the Red Wings (20-16-10) throughout the contest.
In Chicago, right winger Marian Hossa celebrated his 35th birthday with a goal and assist as the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a three-game losing streak.
Chicago (30-8-10) started rookie Antti Raanta in place of goaltender Corey Crawford, who has lost all four of his starts since returning from missing nearly a month due to a lower-body injury.
Raanta stopped 18 shots to boost his season record to 12-1-3 and the Blackhawks scored three times in the second period to roll.
In Nashville, goaltender Darcy Kuemper (2-1-0) notched his first NHL shutout and third career win as Minnesota topped Nashville.
Kuemper made 23 saves as the Wild (25-18-5) won for the fifth time in six games and moved four points ahead of Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Predators (19-21-7), who fell 10 points behind Minnesota and dropped to 1-2-1 on their five-game homestand.
In New York, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves to help the New York Rangers rout the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dan Carcillo, Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who improved to 24-20-3 with their third straight win.
Philadelphia has dropped consecutive games and fell to 23-19-4. Defenceman Mark Streit scored the lone goal for the Flyers.
Also yesterday, Buffalo center Cody Hodgson returned to the lineup and made quite an impact as he drew a penalty that negated a late goal by the Washington Capitals, then scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Sabres.
Hodgson had not played since December 19 because of a finger injury, but helped the Sabres (13-26-5) get their first on the road since November 5, 2013, snapping an 0-9-2 skid away from First Niagara Center.
The loss snapped a modest two-game winning streak for the Capitals (22-16-7), who moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division with 51 points.
In new York, the New York Islanders scored three times in the final 4:16 of the game to defeat the Dallas Stars. REUTERS
