Kings raise the bar to punch Capitals out 4-1

Kings use big third period to win after their backup goalie Bernier makes 22 saves.

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The Los Angeles Kings used a three-goal third period to beat the punchless Washington Capitals 4-1 in the NHL last night in Washington.

Backup goalie Jonathan Bernier had 22 saves for the Kings after allowing Alex Ovechkin's 21st goal of the season on the first shot of the game.

Anze Kopitar equalised in the second. Then Andrei Loktionov put in a rebound, Michal Handzus gave the Kings a two-goal cushion with 7:32 remaining, and Jarret Stoll applied the clincher less than two minutes later.

Canucks 4, Flames 2

In Vancouver, Mikael Samuelsson scored two goals in three second period minutes to help the Vancouver Canucks beat the Calgary Flames 4-2.

Tim Jackman and Curtis Glencross scored early in the second period to put the Flames ahead. But Samuelsson tied it with a perfect shot through Ryan Kesler's screen at 10:40, and put Vancouver ahead with a power-play strike one through Daniel Sedin's screen less than three minutes later.

Mason Raymond added two assists as the Canucks bounced back from a 4-3 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday - just their third in regulation in more than two months. Roberto Luongo finished with 24 saves to remain unbeaten in regulation since Dec. 5 (16-0-5).

Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves for the Flames, who were coming off an overtime loss to Anaheim on Friday night.

Senators 5, Oilers 3

At Edmonton, Alberta, Alex Kovalev had two goals and an assist for Ottawa, which ended an 11-game losing streak and avoided falling into the NHL basement by beating last-place Edmonton.

Milan Michalek, Bobby Butler and Peter Regin also scored for the Senators, who moved four points ahead of Edmonton. Brian Elliott needed to stop only 15 shots to earn the win.

Dustin Penner had a pair of goals, and Andrew Cogliano netted the other for the Oilers, who have won only two of 13 games. Nikolai Khabibulin made 20 saves, but his personal losing streak was extended to 14 games.

Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 0

In Montreal, Carey Price made 27 saves for his sixth shutout to help Montreal end a three-game losing streak with a win over Toronto.

Benoit Pouliot and Brian Gionta scored 1:40 apart in the second period, with David Desharnais, who assisted on Pouliot's goal, completing the scoring in a third period power play

Price bounced back from the worst outing of his career and posted his 10th NHL shutout. The 23-year-old Price, who has two shutouts in four starts, allowed a career-high eight goals in an 8-6 loss at Boston on Wednesday night.

Thomas and New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist are tied for the league lead with seven shutouts. Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 36 shots in his second start in six games for Toronto.

Predators 5, Avalanche 3

In Nashville, Tennessee, Cody Franson scored with 2:30 left to earn Nashville victory over Colorado. It was the Predators second straight victory and third in four games.

The Avalanche have lost seven straight for their longest slide since the franchise relocated to Colorado for the 1995-96 season.

Martin Erat had a goal and two assists, David Legwand added a goal and an assist for Nashville, and Patric Hornqvist and Shea Weber scored a goal apiece. Kevin Porter had a goal and an assist, while Matt Duchene and David Jones also scored goals for Colorado.

Lightning 4, Hurricanes 3, OT

In Tampa, Florida, Marc-Andre Bergeron scored 1:32 into overtime, to save Tampa Bay after it blew a two-goal lead during the final minute of regulation against Carolina.

Carolina had tied it 3-3 on late goals by Jeff Skinner and Erik Cole after goalie Cam Ward went to the Hurricanes bench for an extra skater.

Vincent Lecavalier scored his fourth goal in three games, and Dwayne Roloson made 31 saves as Tampa Bay won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Tampa Bay also got goals from Steve Downie and Bergenheim. The Southeast Division-leading Lightning increased their cushion over second-place Washington to five points. Eric Staal also scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost five of six.

Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2, SO

In Glendale, Arizona, Radim Vrbata scored in his third straight game and the only goal in the shootout, to lift Phoenix over Chicago.

In front of their first home sellout crowd since the opener, the Coyotes overcame a late power-play goal by Chicago's Duncan Keith to win their fourth straight.

Taylor Pyatt scored his 14th goal, coach Dave Tippett earned his 350th NHL win, and Ilya Bryzgalov only had to make one save in the shootout - on Jonathan Toews - as Chicago missed the net on two of its three chances. Bryzgalov stopped 31 shots through overtime.

Troy Brouwer had a power-play goal in the second period, and Keith got one with 4 minutes left in regulation to tie it.

Wild 3, Blues 1

In St Paul, Minnesota, Cal Clutterbuck scored for the third time in two nights as the Wild overcame the Blues.

Goalie Jaroslav Halak was pulled for Ty Conklin midway through the second period after Kyle Brodziak's goal made it 3-0 to Minnesota. Antti Miettinen also scored a power-play goal for the Wild, who got another strong start by goalie Niklas Backstrom and outshot the Blues 31-25.

Patrik Berglund scored for St Louis, but that wasn't nearly enough.

Clutterbuck, also the NHL leader in hits, leads the team with a career-high 17 goals.

The Wild stretched their home winning streak to a season-high four games. St Louis fell to 7-3-1.