SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013 Canadiens stretch unbeaten run to 9

MONTREAL: Max Pacioretty scored his ninth in the last nine games and the surging stretched their unbeaten run to nine with a 2-1 victory over the on Thursday night. Tomas Plekanec also scored for Montreal (18-9-3), which jumped a point ahead of Boston (18-8-2) into first place in the Atlantic Division - although the Bruins have two games in hand. The Canadiens are 8- 0-1 in their last nine. Gregory Campbell scored for Boston, which is 6-2-1 in its past nine. The first meeting of the season between these bitter rivals had the Bell Centre at top volume to start, but the building got quiet when Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher 4:28 into the game. Boychuk was injured on a hit by Pacioretty, who got 2 minutes for boarding. Boychuk was able to move all his limbs as he was taken to the hospi- tal, the Bruins said. After the game, coach Claude Julien said Boychuk was released from the hospital and would return to Boston with the team. Canadiens goalie Carey Price made 32 saves and was especially sharp in the final 20 minutes.

PENGUINS 5, SHARKS 1 Chris Kunitz scored twice during a four-goal second period and Pittsburgh beat San Jose for its fifth straight victory. Pascal Dupuis, Jayson Megna and also scored for the Penguins, who snapped San Jose’s six-game win- ning streak in a showdown between contenders. added three assists in his 500th career game to push his point total to an NHL-leading 42. Marc- Andre Fleury made 44 saves for the Penguins against the league’s high- est-scoring team. Pittsburgh played without star Evgeni Malkin, scratched after sustaining a lower- body injury during the morning MONTREAL: P K Subban No 76 of the Montreal Canadiens body checks Loui Eriksson No 21 of the Boston Bruins during the NHL skate. Tomas Hertl got his 14th goal game at the Bell Centre on December 5, 2013. —AFP for San Jose. Antti Niemi made 23 saves but was pulled after two peri- and handed the Blackhawks their Kadri scored twice for the Leafs in from the left circle made it 3-1 at Fleischmann and Erik Gudbranson ods, and the Sharks lost in regula- first loss in their past seven road his return from a one-game absence 10:56 of the third. also scored for the Panthers. Tim tion for only the fourth time this games. With Charlie Coyle partially to attend his grandfather’s funeral. Thomas stopped 29 shots and season. screening Corey Crawford at the It looked as if his second goal would BLUES 5, ISLANDERS 1 Scottie Upshall had two assists. edge of the crease, Brodin wound stand. But Toronto’s best - Derek Roy and David Backes Olsen also added an assist. Olli RANGERS 3, SABRES 1 up and sent the puck ricocheting off killer Jay McClement took a tripping scored power-play goals 2:31 apart Jokinen and Andrew Ladd scored Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves Blackhawks defenseman Johnny penalty late in the third and Shawn in the second period to lead St for the Jets. Ondrej Pavelec made to lead New York over Buffalo. Rick Oduya and past the goalie’s out- Horcoff scored when he tipped Louis over struggling New York. St 21 saves. The Panthers snapped a Nash, Brad Richards and Mats stretched glove. Crawford made 19 Kevin Connauton’s shot past Louis won for the sixth time in eight three-game losing streak and Zuccarello scored for New York, saves. Jonathan Bernier at 17:14 to tie it a games. The Islanders have lost eight earned their first points during that which bounced back from a 5-2 loss 2-2. Bernier finished with 48 saves. straight overall (0-6-2) and eight in a span. to Winnipeg on Monday. Tyler Ennis HURRICANES 5, PREDATORS 2 row on the road. Jay Bouwmeester, scored and Ryan Miller made 28 Jeff Skinner had a hat trick to LIGHTNING 3, SENATORS 1 Magnus Paajarvi and Brenden OILERS 8, AVALANCHE 2 saves in a loss that drops the Sabres lead Carolina to a victory over Martin St Louis scored two goals, Morrow also scored for the Blues, Taylor Hall had a hat trick and an to 3-12-1 at the First Niagara Center. Nashville. Skinner has five goals in Ben Bishop won his 15th game this who improved to 12-1-2 at home assist to help rebound Lundqvist, playing his first game his past two games. Justin Faulk and season, and Tampa Bay beat and tied Boston (12-3-2) for the from a lopsided defeat with a sur- since signing a seven-year, $59.5 Riley Nash also scored for Carolina, . Valtteri Filppula also scored most home wins in the NHL. prising rout of Colorado. Ales million contract, was hardly trou- winners of its past two. Mike Fisher for the Lightning, who were coming Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves and Hemsky, David Perron, Mark bled through 40 minutes, but was and Viktor Stalberg scored for off consecutive shutout losses to upped his record to 15-4-2. Andrew Arcobello, Jordan Eberle and Sam outstanding in the third period. Nashville, which completed a four- Columbus (1-0) and Pittsburgh (3- MacDonald scored for the Islanders, Gagner also scored for the Oilers, game homestand 0-3-1. 0). Ondrej Palat had two assists. who are 2-11-2 in their last 15 who replaced a quarter of their line- WILD 4, BLACKHAWKS 3 Ottawa got a goal from Patrick games. St Louis was 3 for 6 on the up after a 6-2 loss to Phoenix on ’s slap shot with MAPLE LEAFS 3, STARS 2, OT Wiercioch. St Louis beat goalie power play after managing one Tuesday. The Oilers improved to 4- 1:48 left, the defenseman’s first goal Trevor Smith scored at 4:18 of Robin Lehner from just outside the goal in its previous 10 chances. 9-0 at home, and they’ve won six of this season, lifted Minnesota over overtime to help Toronto end a five- crease to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 nine overall. Ryan Smyth had three Chicago. Jonas Brodin scored on a game skid. The Maple Leafs won for advantage 13:19 into the second. PANTHERS 5, JETS 2 assists. Nick Holden and P A power play with 5:39 remaining to the first time since Nov. 23 despite The Lightning captain tied Jason Dylan Olsen scored his first NHL Parenteau scored for the Avalanche, tie the game for the Wild, who being outshot for the 10th consecu- Arnott for 91st place on the NHL goal to help Florida beat Winnipeg. who had won two in a row and five raised their home record to 12-3-2 tive game, this time 50-24. Nazem points list with 938. Filppula’s goal Jimmy Hayes, Nick Bjugstad, Tomas of six. —AP