Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Nicklas Backstrom scored twice, including the winning goal at 3:10 of overtime, as the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, at United Center. Backstrom, Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr scored 2:16 apart in the third period to erase a 3-0 deficit. Jose Theodore made 20 saves for the Capitals, who have already secured their third consecutive Southeast Division title and lead the NHL with 101 points. Washington mustered the comeback without captain Alex Ovechkin. He missed the majority of the contest after receiving a major and a game misconduct for shoving Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell, who crashed violently into the end boards from behind at the 12:16 mark of the first period. Campbell's right shoulder appeared to absorb most of the collision. He did not return to the game, and a report in a Chicago newspaper states that Campbell will miss at least the rest of the regular season with a broken collarbone. Jonathan Toews had a pair of goals for Chicago, which was coming off a tough 3-2 loss in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Blackhawks surrendered two goals in the final 2:04 against the Flyers, including Chris Pronger's game-winner with 2.1 seconds left. Antti Niemi stopped 26 shots to take the loss.
Final Score: NY Rangers 3, Philadelphia 1
New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Sean Avery scored a pair of goals, as the New York Rangers topped Philadelphia, 3-1, at Madison Square Garden. Michal Rozsival notched the other goal, while Erik Christensen and Chris Drury picked up two assists each for the Rangers, who have won two games following a four-game losing streak to move to within one point of idle Boston for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Henrik Lundqvist needed to make just 17 stops to win his 28th game of the season. Danny Briere picked up the lone goal for the Flyers, who could not capitalize on a win in the final seconds against Chicago on Saturday. Michael Leighton allowed all three goals on 21 shots in defeat.
Final Score: Colorado 5, Dallas 3
Dallas, TX (My Sportsbook) - Paul Stastny scored twice and Craig Anderson made 48 saves, as the Colorado Avalanche earned a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Milan Hejduk and Darcy Tucker each had a goal and an assist, while Chris Stewart tallied the go-ahead goal in the second period for Colorado, which was coming off a 3-0 win over Florida on Thursday and has won three of four overall. Brandon Segal registered two goals and Jamie Benn also lit the lamp for the Stars, who have dropped three in a row and six of their last seven overall. Marty Turco allowed four goals on 18 shots, before being replaced by Kari Lehtonen in the second period. Lehtonen stopped 3-of-4 shots.
Final Score: Nashville 3, Los Angeles 2
Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Patric Hornqvist scored the game-winner late in the third period, as the Nashville Predators edged the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, at Staples Center. Steve Sullivan and Colin Wilson also scored for the Predators, who ended a four-game road trip with a 3-1-0 mark. Pekka Rinne made 18 saves for Nashville, which sits seventh in the Western Conference. The Predators have won seven in a row against the Kings, and five straight in Los Angeles. Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown lit the lamp for the Kings, who started a four-game homestand on Sunday. Jonathan Quick turned aside 28-of-31 shots for Los Angeles, which is currently fifth in the West.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 2, Tampa Bay 1
Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - Sergei Gonchar notched the game-winning score early in the third period, as Pittsburgh clipped Tampa Bay, 2-1, at St. Pete Times Forum. Pascal Dupuis also tallied for the Penguins, who snapped a two- game slide and have won five of their last seven. Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves for Pittsburgh, which moved four points ahead of idle New Jersey (87-83) in the race for the Atlantic Division crown. Vincent Lecavalier provided the lone strike for the Lightning, who slid to their eighth loss in 10 games. Antero Niittymaki was solid in defeat, stopping 37-of-39 shots for Tampa Bay, which remained in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Rangers.
Final Score: NY Islanders 4, Toronto 1
Uniondale, NY (My Sportsbook) - Richard Park posted a goal and an assist, while Blake Comeau added three helpers, and the Islanders recorded back-to- back wins for the first time in nearly two months with a 4-1 win over Toronto. Matt Moulson, Tim Jackman and Frans Nielsen each scored once for New York, which posted its third win against the Leafs in four games this season. The Islanders have now won two straight games for the first time since a four-game streak from January 9-18. Martin Biron stopped 26-of-27 shots to earn the victory. Nikolai Kulemin scored the lone goal for the Maple Leafs, who had a season-best three-game win streak snapped. Jean-Sebastien Giguere allowed all four goals on 32 shots, as Toronto lost for the ninth time in 10 road games.
Final Score: Phoenix 3, Atlanta 2 (SO)
Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Adrian Aucoin scored the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout, as the Phoenix Coyotes edged the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-2, at Philips Arena. Rich Peverley got Atlanta on the board with a backhander to start the third round. However, Radim Vrbata kept Phoenix alive by netting his own backhander. Clarke MacArthur got the fourth round started with a wrister that missed the net. Aucoin then fired a wrist shot that hit off the inside of the right post and into the back of the net for the victory. Matthew Lombardi and Lee Stempniak scored in regulation for the Coyotes, who have won five in a row and sit fourth in the Western Conference with 89 points. Jason LaBarbera made 39 saves for the victors. Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov each had a goal and an assist for the Thrashers, who have dropped six straight for the first time since a nine-game slide from December 19-January 5. Atlanta, which moved into sole possession of 11th place in the East with the single point, sits five points behind Boston for the eighth spot. Ondrej Pavelec turned aside 32-of-34 shots in defeat.
Final Score: Minnesota 4, St. Louis 2
St. Paul, MN (My Sportsbook) - Mikko Koivu netted a goal and two assists, and the Minnesota Wild notched a 4-2 win over the streaking St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen both had a goal and an assist for the Wild, while Guillaume Latendresse tallied for the 25th time, extending a career-best. Josh Harding, playing again in place of the injured Niklas Backstrom (groin), made 35 stops in Minnesota's second straight win following a four-game skid. Paul Kariya and Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues, who had won seven of their last eight to move within striking distance of a playoff berth. St. Louis stands five points behind idle Detroit for the eighth and final spot in the West. Chris Mason stopped only 4-of-7 shots in the first period before Ty Conklin finished the game with 12 saves.
Final Score: Anaheim 4, San Jose 2
Anaheim, CA (My Sportsbook) - Teemu Selanne posted a goal and one assist and crept closer to becoming the NHL's all-time leading Finnish goal scorer, as Anaheim topped San Jose, 4-2, at Honda Center. He also suffered an upper body injury, and the team announced after the game that he will undergo tests Monday, at which time an update will be provided. Corey Perry, Lubomir Visnovsky and Bobby Ryan also lit the lamp for the Ducks, who halted a five- game losing skid. Jonas Hiller stopped 31 shots for the win. Joe Thornton and Jamie McGinn provided the offense for the Sharks, who have lost two straight since winning three in a row. Evgeni Nabokov yielded three goals on 32 shots in the setback.
Final Score: Vancouver 3, Calgary 1
Vancouver, BC (My Sportsbook) - The Twin brothers of Daniel and Henrik Sedin each registered a goal and an assist, as the Canucks scored three times in the opening period and turned back the Calgary Flames, 3-1, for their sixth win in eight games. Ryan Kesler also scored, and Roberto Luongo stopped 32 shots for Vancouver, which had no shots in the final period but still managed to move five points clear of Colorado for the lead in the Northwest Division. The Canucks played at home for a second straight night after finishing the longest road trip in NHL history, a 14-game trek. They've won seven in a row at General Motors Place. Robyn Regehr had the lone goal, and Miikka Kiprusoff made 17 saves in the first period for the Flames, who at 77 points are one behind Detroit for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Vesa Toskala played the final two periods in net for the Flames, stopping eight shots. Calgary had a four-game winning streak broken.
