NHL Final Scores & Recap

(Thursday, January 31st)

Final Score: Los Angeles 3, NY Islanders 1

Uniondale, NY - Rob Blake’s power-play goal in the third period gave Los Angeles the lead for good and Jason LaBarbera was strong with 28 saves, as the Kings defeated the New York Islanders, 3-1, at Nassau Coliseum. Matt Moulson scored in the first period and Alex Frolov sealed the win with an empty-netter for the Kings, who closed the month of January with a 7-5-1 mark. LA will remain in the New York metro area for the next two of its season-long eight-game road trip with contests against New Jersey and the Rangers on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively. Bryan Berard scored the only goal for the Islanders, who have dropped three straight and fell to 2-5-1 in their last eight games overall. Wade Dubielewicz allowed two goals on 26 shots in the loss.

Final Score: NY Rangers 4, Philadelphia 0

Philadelphia, PA - Stephen Valiquette posted 20 saves for his first career shutout as the New York Rangers pounded the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-0, at the Wachovia Center. Chris Drury had a goal and an assist while Brendan Shanahan also scored for the Rangers, who have won three of their last four games. Antero Niittymaki started in net but was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots. Martin Biron finished the game between the pipes and stopped all 15 shots he faced for the Flyers, who had won six of seven coming into the game.

Final Score: Washington 5, Montreal 4 (OT)

Washington, DC - Alex Ovechkin recorded his second career four-goal game and tallied the game-winner with 1:26 left in overtime, as the Washington Capitals split a home-and-home set against the Montreal Canadiens with a 5-4 win at the Verizon Center. Ovechkin scored four goals earlier this season in an 8-6 win over the Ottawa Senators on December 29. In the extra session, Mike Green’s point shot deflected off a Montreal defender right to Jeff Schultz at the left circle. Schultz then kicked the puck to his stick and dished to Ovechkin in front for the tip in. Viktor Kozlov posted a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who have won a season- high five straight at home. Ovechkin added an assist and Green collected two helpers, while Olaf Kolzig stopped 17-of-21 shots to earn the win. Guillaume Latendresse registered two goals and an assist for the Canadiens, who had a three-game winning streak halted. Sergei Kostitsyn had a goal and an assist, while Cristobal Huet allowed five goals on 38 shots in defeat.

Final Score: Carolina 3, Toronto 2 (OT)

Raleigh, NC - Rod Brind’Amour scored the game-winning goal with 1:40 left in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes rebounded from blowing a lead in the final seconds of regulation to best Toronto, 3-2 in sudden death, at RBC Center. Scott Walker and Tim Gleason each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who have won their first two games since the All-Star break and four of five overall. Cam Ward made 24 saves in the win for Carolina, and Ray Whitney added a pair of helpers. Mats Sundin tallied a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who dropped their third straight game. The loss wasted a brilliant performance from goalie Vesa Toskala, who stopped 35 shots in defeat. Jiri Tlusty also scored for Toronto.

Final Score: Boston 4, Ottawa 1

Ottawa, ON - Marc Savard and Chuck Kobasew had a goal and an assist each to lead Boston over Ottawa, 4-1, at Scotiabank Place. Phil Kessel and Milan Lucic also scored for the Bruins, who have won three in a row and five of six. Tim Thomas won his fifth consecutive start by making 30 saves. Antoine Vermette lit the lamp for the Senators, whose two-game win streak came to an end. Martin Gerber allowed three goals on 21 shots in the loss.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 4, Vancouver 3

Tampa, FL - Brad Richards had a goal and two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, at St. Pete Times Forum. Martin St. Louis had three assists while Karri Ramo stopped 23 shots for the Lightning, who snapped a two-game slide. Taylor Pyatt had a goal and an assist while Roberto Luongo finished the game with 23 saves in the loss for the Canucks, who have dropped two straight and six of seven.

Final Score: Nashville 4, Columbus 2

Nashville, TN - Vernon Fiddler and Scott Nichol scored second-period goals to keep Nashville in control and Chris Mason stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period, as the Predators defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, in a Central Division battle at Sommet Center. Alexander Radulov and Jason Arnott also scored for the Predators, who earned at least a point for the fifth time in their last six games (4-1-1), and moved one point ahead of the Blue Jackets in the division standings (57 points). Mason finished with 31 saves. Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche scored for Columbus, which has dropped two straight and closed the month of January with a 7-7 mark. Pascal Leclaire started for the Blue Jackets, but was pulled after 40 minutes of action in which he allowed four goals on 23 shots. Fredrik Norrena stopped all eight shots he faced in relief.

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