BOSTON — The Boston Bruins signed Ryan Donato to a two-year, entry-level deal and said the U.S. Olympic star could play for them right away.

Donato had 26 goals and 17 assists in 29 games this season at Harvard. He led the United States with five goals and six points at the Olympics as one of its youngest players.

The 21-year-old is eligible to be in Boston’s lineup Monday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a big boost to a Stanley Cup contender down the stretch.

Donato was a second-round pick for Boston in 2014, and the team retained his rights while he played for his father, Ted Donato, a former Bruin who has been the coach at Harvard since 2004. The Boston native said at the Olympics it was always a dream for him to play in the NHL and for the Bruins, but he didn’t want to make any declarations about his future, which could soon include playoff action.

“At the end of the day I want to graduate as well,” Donato said after the U.S. was eliminated at the Olympics. “We’ll see what the future holds.”

SUNDAY’S GAMES

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LIGHTNING 3, OILERS 1: Nikita Kucherov scored twice and Louis Domingue stopped 28 shots to help host Tampa Bay end a two-game slide and move back to four points ahead of Boston for the top overall spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Victor Hedman also scored and Steven Stamkos added two assists for the Lightning.

Tampa Bay killed off five Edmonton power-play chances and kept Connor McDavid off the scoresheet, leaving him four points behind Kucherov for the league lead in points.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, FLAMES 0: William Karlsson scored a natural hat trick to lead Vegas past visiting Calgary.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 42 saves. In getting his 48th career shutout and fourth of the season, Fleury moved into a tie with Chris Osgood for 12th all-time in goaltender wins with 401.

FLYERS 6, CAPITALS 3: Wayne Simmonds scored twice to help lift host Philadelphia, which stayed in third place in the Metropolitan Division and moved within four points of the first-place Capitals.

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Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 43rd goal of the season for Washington.

AVALANCHE 5, RED WINGS 1: Nathan MacKinnon kept up his torrid scoring with two goals and an assist, Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves and host Colorado extended Detroit’s losing streak to 10.

HURRICANES 4, ISALNDERS 3: Trevor van Riemsdyk scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period and Scott Darling made 26 saves as Carolina won at New York.

BLUES 5, BLACKHAWKS 4: Patrik Berglund scored 3:31 into overtime and St. Louis came from behind to win at Chicago.


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