CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago Blackhawks have canceled practice out of concern about potential exposure to COVID-19. The workout was supposed to be held at the team’s practice facility. The Blackhawks say the move was made “out of an abundance of caution.” Chicago lost 2-1 to Columbus on Friday night. The Blackhawks are scheduled to host the Blue Jackets again on Sunday night. The Blackhawks have five players on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Zdena Chara (zuh-DAY’-noh CHAH’-rah) faced Boston for the first time since being let go by the Bruins. Alex Ovechkin (oh-VEHCH’-kihn) also made a triumphant return as the Washington Capitals beat the Bruins, 4-3. Ovechkin beat Tuukka (TOO’-kuh) Rask clean off the rush 28 seconds into OT in his first game since Jan. 19. The Capitals captain missed the past four games because of COVID-19 protocols. Chara took a puck to the face late in the first period but returned for the second and didn’t miss a shift. The 43-year-old Chara played 21 minutes. Vitek Vanecek made 40 saves in his sixth consecutive start, helping the Capitals improve to 6-0-3.
— Second-period goals by Tyler Johnson, Cal Foote, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos sparked the Lightning’s 4-3 victory over the Predators. Brayden Point had two assists to help Tampa Bay end a five-period goal drought with the big second.
— Jordan Kyrou (KY’-roo) scored two of the Blues’ three goals in the opening 2:06 of a 6-1 drubbing of the Ducks. Zach Sanford also scored during the three fastest goals to open a game in Blues history.
— Brandon Saad (sahd) had a goal and assist to lead a balanced scoring attack in Colorado’s 5-1 win against the Wild. Logan O’Connor, Joonas Donskoi (YOH’-nuhs DAHN’-skoi), Mikko Rantanen (MEE’-koh RAN’-tah-nehn) and J.T. Compher also scored as the Avalanche won their third in a row.
— The Flyers blew a 2-0 lead in the second period before Scott Laughton scored 3:44 into overtime to give Philadelphia a 3-2 win over the Islanders. First-period goals by Kevin Hayes and Jake Voracek put the Flyers up by two, but the Islanders countered with second-period goals by Jordan Eberle and Scott Mayfield.
— The Penguins ended a two-game skid by defeating the Rangers, 5-4 on Sidney Crosby’s goal at 2:27 of OT. Jake Guentzel (GEHNT’-sul) tied it midway through the third period and Pierre-Olivier Joseph had two assists as Pittsburgh improved to 3-0 against New York this season.
— Vincent Trocheck (TROH’-chehk) scored twice in a three-minute span in the first period of the Hurricanes’ 4-1 decision over the Stars. Andrei Svechnikov and Ryan Dzingel (duh-ZIHN’-gul) furnished power-play goals just 1:39 apart in the second, one period after Carolina netminder Petr Mrazek (muh-RA’-zehk) had to leave the game because of an injury.
— Jack Eichel (EYE’-kul) scored in a shootout and Linus (LEE’-nuhs) Ullmark made 31 saves for the Sabres in their third win in four games, 4-3 over the Devils. Eichel returned to the game in the third period after taking a puck to the mouth and briefly leaving for the dressing room.
— Aleksi Heponiemi (ah-LEHK’-see hep-ohn-YEH’-mee) made the most of his NHL debut, scoring with 2:15 left in overtime to lift the Panthers over the Red Wings, 3-2. Aleksander Barkov and Keith Yandle netted power-play goals for Florida.
— The Canadiens lost for the first time in eight games this season as Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves for his second shutout of the season, leading the Flames’ 2-0 victory at Montreal. Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund had the goals in Calgary’s first win in four games.
— Connor McDavid’s second goal of the night ended the Oilers’ 4-3 triumph over the Maple Leafs. Dominik Kahun (kah-HOON’) and Josh Archibald also scored, and Mikko Koskinen (MEE’-koh KAHS’-kah-nehn) stopped 26 shots for Edmonton.
— Brock Boeser (BEH’-sur) has eight goals already this season after netting two more in the Canucks’ 4-1 verdict over the Jets. Thatcher Demko turned back 23 shots and blanked Winnipeg after Mason Appleton scored his first goal of the season 2:03 into the game.
