UNDATED (AP) — The New York Rangers are within four points of the NHL’s Metropolitan Division lead after preventing Pittsburgh from moving closer to the first-place Carolina Hurricanes.
Chris Kreider scored his 43rd and 44th goals of the season as the Rangers ripped the Penguins, 5-1. Kreider is tied for second with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl among NHL goal-scorers, two behind Toronto’s Auston Matthews.
Mika Zibanejad had three assists and Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves for the Blueshirts, who led 3-0 just 4 1/2 minutes into the game.
Alexis Lafreniere, Frank Vatrano and newcomer Andrew Copp also scored for the Rangers, who kept the Pens three points behind the Hurricanes.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Cale Makar scored twice as the Avalanche whipped the Flyers, 6-3. Makar’s goal on a wrist shot in the third period was his 24th of the season, surpassing the team mark Sandis Ozolinsh set 25 years ago. Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists as part of Colorado’s four-goal first period.
— Alex Ovechkin had the big goals in the Capitals’ 4-3 win over the Sabres, tying the game late in the second period and providing the deciding shootout goal. Anthony Mantha and Nick Jensen also scored for Washington, and Ilya Samsonov stopped 20 shots for the Caps in their first win in three games. Jeff Skinner scored twice and Victor Olofsson added a goal for Buffalo, which had won three in a row.
— The Flames doubled up the Coyotes, 4-2 as Johnny Gaudreau netted his 30th goal and added two assists. Matthew Tkachuk also scored his 30th for Calgary, which improved to 16-2-2 in its last 20 home games. Jacob Markstrom made 16 stops and became the Flames’ first 30-game winner in goal since Miikka Kiprusoff 10 years ago.
— Nikolaj Ehlers scored on a breakaway just 21 seconds into overtime to push the Jets past the Blue Jackets, 4-3. Oliver Bjorkstrand forced the extra period with a tying power-play goal for Columbus with 14 seconds left in regulation. Kyle Connor scored a goal and ran his point streak to 10 games for Winnipeg.
