Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured) scores goal against Anaheim Ducks during the third period of their NHL match at Honda Center. The Washington Capitals defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2.
ANAHEIM, California: Alex Ovechkin’s NHL-leading 46th goal of the season was the difference in the Washington Capitals’ victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals (33-27-10) captured their third straight decision and continued their chase of the New York Rangers for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference play-off race.
The Ducks (45-17-7) lost for the third consecutive time at home and for the first time in three games. Ovechkin fired the game-winner at 2:44 of the third, while goaltender Jaroslav Halak made 43 saves in the win.
Brad Marchand and Jarome Iginla scored 59 seconds apart early in the second period as the Bruins rolled to their 10th consecutive victory.
Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist, and center Chris Kelly added an insurance goal for a 4-1 lead in the third period.
Red-hot Boston (47-17-5) remained five points clear of Pittsburgh for the top mark in the Eastern Conference and moved within two of NHL-leading St Louis. Backup goaltender Chad Johnson made 22 saves to run his record to 15-3-1.
Martin Brodeur made 27 saves for New Jersey (29-27-13).
After being held off the scoresheet in consecutive losses over the weekend, Sidney Crosby hit back with two goals and an assist as the Penguins cruised to a victory. Penguins (45-19-4) left winger Chris Kunitz also contributed a goal and an assist after missing the previous two games with a lower-body injury.
Tyler Seguin netted his 31st goal of the season for Dallas (32-25-11) in the loss.
Claude Giroux scored with 4.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Scott Hartnell had the other two goals for Philadelphia (36-25-7). The Flyers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions and remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Thomas Vanek scored a hat-trick to lead the Montreal Canadiens to an easy win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Brandon Prust and Travis Moen also scored for the Canadiens (38-25-7), who won their third straight and also got 33 saves from Carey Price.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 23 shots for Colorado (44-20-5).
Minnesota left winger Matt Moulson, playing against his former team for the first time, scored the first and last goals in a rout of the New York Islanders.
Moulson scored 118 goals in four-plus seasons for the Islanders before he was traded to Buffalo in the deal that sent Thomas Vanek to New York on Oct. 29.
Gustav Nyquist scored twice and the Detroit Red Wings held on for a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Daniel Alfredsson also scored for Detroit (31-24-13). Jimmy Howard made 31 saves. Jake Gardiner and left winger James van Riemsdyk scored for Toronto (36-26-8). James Reimer stopped 28 shots. Spearheaded by the two-goal, one-assist performance of center Derick Brassard, the Rangers doubled up the Ottawa Senators in an easy win.
Rick Nash also scored a pair, while goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves for the win. The Rangers (37-29-4) entered the game as the owners of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Senators (28-27-13) are seven points back with two games in hand.
Goaltender Anton Khudobin had 46 saves and came within 50 seconds of his third career shutout, and the Carolina Hurricanes kept alive their faint playoff hopes with a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Michael Cammalleri, a pending unrestricted free agent who was expected to be traded but was not moved at the deadline, scored his seventh goal in a nine-game span and it held up as the winner in a victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
The Flames (28-34-7) are destined to miss the playoffs but have now won nine of their last 11 at home. Roberto Luongo made 52 saves and Florida scored three second-period goals to edge out the San Jose Sharks.
After falling 1-0 behind, Brandon Pirri, Quinton Howden and Scottie Upshall all struck in the middle period to put the Panthers (26-35-8) on top.
The Edmonton Oilers, last in the Western Conference and with the worst home record in the NHL, jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes and then piled on to deliver a blow to Nashville’s slim playoff hopes.
The Predators (29-30-10), who began the day in 12th place, seven points out the final playoff spot, desperately needed these points.
Jordan Eberle scored twice to lead the way for Edmonton (25-36-9).Reuters
