BOSTON — Nikita Kucherov had his third career hat trick to lead Tampa Bay to a 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, snapping the Lightning’s three-game losing streak.

Jonathan Drouin had a goal and two assists, Brayden Point had a goal and an assist and Anton Stralman also scored to help the Lightning pull three points behind the Bruins for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

Peter Budaj finished with 28 saves for the Lightning to earn his 29th win of the season. Ondrej Palat had three assists, and Jake Dotchin and Victor Hedman added two each.

Riley Nashy had a goal and an assist for Boston, and David Pastrnak and Zdeno Chara also scored. Tuukka Rask stopped 23 shots as Boston, which won seven of the first eight games under interim coach Bruce Cassidy, has now lost four straight and six of 11.

CAPITALS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1: T.J. Oshie scored the shootout winner as Washington overcame a stellar performance from Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky for a victory at home.

Despite 44 saves from Bobrovsky, the Capitals reached 104 points and extended their lead atop the Metropolitan Division standings.

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Maple Leafs 4, Devils 2: Auston Matthews had two assists and William Nylander had a goal and an assist as Toronto beat visiting New Jersey.

Flyers 3, Wild 1: Matt Read scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period, Steve Mason stopped 24 shots and Philadelphia won at St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senators 2, Penguins 1: Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan scored in the shootout to lift Ottawa over visiting Pittsburgh.

HURRICANES 4, CANADIENS 1: Lee Stempniak scored twice and Carolina won at Montreal to extend its point streak to nine games and keep its playoff hopes alive.

PANTHERS 3, COYOTES 1: Jonathan Marchessault scored two goals and James Reimer made 38 saves to lift Florida at home.

Predators 3, Flames 1: Pekka Rinne made 24 saves to lead Nashville over visiting Calgary.

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NOTES

SABRES: The NHL suspended defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen for three games following his blindside hit that led to Penguins forward Jake Guentzel’s sustaining a concussion.

MAPLE LEAFS: Defenseman Roman Polak was suspended two games by the league for boarding Columbus forward Oliver Bjorkstrand on Wednesday.

BLACKHAWKS: Chicago signed rookie forward Tanner Kero to a two-year contract extension.

OLYMPICS: International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel told The AP he needs to know by the end of April whether NHL players will be cleared to play in the South Korea Olympics next year.


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