ANAHEIM, California (AP) Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler scored the tiebreaking goal on a rush to the net with 3:40 to play as the Ducks edged New Jersey 3-2 on Thursday and went clear top of the NHL’s Pacific Division.
The Ducks move to 21 points, equal second overall in the Western Conference along with St. Louis, which held on for a tight victory against San Jose.
Among other results, Minnesota came up with a last-minute winner to break scoreless stalemate and defeat Boston, while Philadelphia scored on its first two shots en route to a comfortable win against Winnipeg.
Anaheim’s Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg scored 16 seconds apart in the second period for the Ducks, who struggled in the third until the late winner when Silfverberg controlled the puck behind the net and centered it to Kesler, who stormed into the slot and forced home his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Kyle Quincey had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who had won their previous five games, and Devante Smith-Pelly also scored against his former team.
St. Louis’ Jaden Schwartz scored twice in a 3-2 victory over San Jose, moving the Blues within three points of the conference lead.
David Perron added the game-winner on a power-play late in the second period, snapping San Jose’s record of killing of 26 straight penalty periods dating back 11 games.
Kevin Labanc got his first NHL goal and Logan Couture also scored for the Sharks.
Minnesota’s Mikael Granlund scored with 44.5 seconds left to give the Wild a 1-0 win against Boston.
Granlund took a pass from Jonas Brodin and his attempted centering pass came off the skate of an opponent and trickled into the net. The Wild has managed to win three of its past seven games despite scoring only ten times across those matches.
Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots for his league-leading fourth shutout. He has allowed only nine goals in his past nine games.
Philadelphia’s Michael Raffl and Sean Couturier scored 34 seconds apart in the first period as the Flyers began smartly and defeated Winnipeg 5-2.
Mark Streit, Wayne Simmonds and Brandon Manning also scored for the Flyers, who had 12 players register points.
Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien had the goals for the Jets, who opened a season-high five-game, nine-day road trip.
Nashville took control after an even first period and won 5-1 at Ottawa.
Ryan Ellis scored the tiebreaking goal late in the first period and Pekka Rinne stopped 30 shots.
Mike Ribeiro had a goal and assist, and Colton Sissons, Pontus Aberg and James Neal also scored for the Predators.
Derrick Brassard scored for Ottawa.
Tampa Bay shook off the disappointment of news that captain Steven Stamkos will miss four months with a knee injury, and won 4-1 at Buffalo.
Toronto’s Connor Brown had two goals and two assists to lead the Maple Leafs past Florida 6-1.
Los Angeles’ Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking short-handed goal midway through the second period as the Kings beat Edmonton 4-2.
Dallas scored all its goals in the first period and held off Colorado thereafter to win 3-2.
Vancouver’s Ben Hutton scored on a penalty shot at 2:34 of overtime to lift the Canucks over Arizona 3-2.
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