NEW YORK – Rick Nash had a goal and assist in the first period, and Ryan Callahan had a pair of assists as the New York Rangers hung on to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Derick Brassard and Nash both scored power-play goals, with help from Callahan in the first, and Mats Zuccarello found the net for the second straight game to give the playoff-hopeful Rangers their sixth win in nine games (6-2-1).
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The Rangers (22-17-4) have five games left while the Winnipeg Jets (23-19-2) have four. Each team has 48 points.
JETS 4, HURRICANES 3: Dustin Byfuglien scored 1:23 into overtime and host Winnipeg continued its hunt for a playoff berth with its season-high fifth straight win.
Byfuglien beat Justin Peters off a rebound from a shot by Andrew Ladd, who finished with three assists.
Alexander Semin tied it 3-3 with 1:12 left in regulation.
SENATORS 3, CAPITALS 1: Kyle Turris scored twice and host Ottawa ended Washington’s winning streak at eight.
Cory Conacher also scored and Craig Anderson had to make just 18 saves to help the Senators win their fourth straight.
ISLANDERS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 3: John Tavares had two goals and an assist as the New York Islanders moved within two points of host Toronto for fifth place in the East.
The Islanders overcame an early 2-0 deficit to win the first of five straight road games it will play to end the regular season.
BLUES 2, COYOTES 1: Brian Elliott stopped all three chances in a shootout for the second straight game, bouncing back after a late goal denied him a fourth shutout this month, and host St. Louis stepped closer to a playoff berth.
DEVILS 3, FLYERS 0: Martin Brodeur stopped 23 shots for his 121st career shutout to keep New Jersey’s slim playoff hopes alive with a win at Philadelphia.
Ryan Carter, Matt D’Agostini and Adam Henrique scored goals to help the Devils snap their 10 game winless streak.
CANADIENS 3, LIGHTNING 2: Brian Gionta scored his second goal of the game with 47 seconds left in regulation and host Montreal snapped a three-game skid.
Gionta was at the left post to put a rebound off the end boards into an open side for the winner.
Alex Galchenyuk also scored for the Canadiens, who had been outscored 18-8 in their three previous outings.
STARS 5, CANUCKS 1: Cody Eakin, Jamie Benn and Ray Whitney scored goals early in the third period to break open a tie game and help move Dallas into a tie with Detroit for ninth in the Western Conference, trailing Columbus for the eighth and final playoff spot by two points.
NOTES
WILD: Minnesota is moving its AHL team from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa, starting next season.
The Houston Aeros have been the Wild’s top minor league club since 2001.
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