Ryan Pulock scored a power-play goal in overtime to give the Islanders their seventh straight win at Nassau Coliseum, 3-2 over the Golden Knights.
Brock Nelson and Cal Clutterbuck also scored and Semyon Varlamov stopped 31 shots for New York, which has won three of four since an 0-2-1 skid. Vegas gained a point after Jonathan Marchessault scored with 4:32 left in regulation, but he was in the penalty box when the Knights ended a four-game winning streak.
Artemi Panarin scored the decisive goal in his return to Columbus, leading the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets. Panarin was booed throughout in his first game back in Ohio since leaving the Jackets for a free-agent contract last summer. Brendan Lemieux and Jacob Trouba also scored as New York moved to 5-1-1 over its last seven games.
Milan Lucic finally scored for Calgary and Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist in the Flames' 4-3 downing of the Sabres. Lucic gave the Flames a 4-1 lead four minutes into the third period with his first goal in 28 games since joining the team. David Rittich handled 26 shots in Calgary's third win in four games since dropping six in a row.
The Boston Bruins staged an impressive comeback but came away with just one point for their effort. The Chicago Blackhawks coughed up a 3-0 lead in the third period before Jonathan Toews scored 54 seconds into overtime to give the Hawks a 4-3 win at Boston. Ryan Carpenter and Dylan Strome scored 37 seconds apart at the end of the first period, and Alex DeBrincat tallied off the opening faceoff of the third period to make it 3-0. But the Bruins countered with goals by Joakim Nordstrom, Chris Wagner and Torey Krug before ending their eight-game winning streak. The Bruins are 12-0-5 at home and owners of the NHL's second-best point total, one behind Washington. Robin Lehner made 37 saves for the Blackhawks, who had lost six of their previous seven games.
The Flyers had won five straight until Phil Kessel scored twice and Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 shots in the Coyotes' 3-1 victory at Philadelphia. Kuemper entered the game with a league-best 1.97 goals-against average and was in line for his third shutout of the season until Matt Niskanen beat him with 4:43 remaining. Conor Garland added an empty-netter for the Coyotes, who improved to 10-3-3 on the road.
Gabriel Landeskog scored in his return from injury as the Avalanche downed the Canadiens, 3-2. Ryan Graves and Matt Calvert also scored and backup goaltender Pavel Francouz made 39 saves in Colorado's fifth consecutive win. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cousins scored for the Canadiens, who have dropped nine of their last 10 games.
The Wild have a five-game winning streak after Mats Zuccarello furnished a goal and two assists in their 5-4 victory over the Lightning. Joel Eriksson Ek, Jason Zucker, Carson Soucy and Victor Rask also scored to back Alex Stalock, who stopped 30 shots. Minnesota stretched its point streak to 11 games and dropped Tampa Bay to 1-3-1 in its last five games.
Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist in regulation before adding the shootout tally that gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 win against the Sharks. Jake Gardiner also scored and Warren Foegele added two assists in Carolina's second win in its last five games. San Jose has lost two in a row since winning 11 of 13.
The Stars downed the Jets, 3-2 on a power-play goal by Joe Pavelski 2:02 into overtime. Dallas goalie Ben Bishop made 15 of his 36 saves in the third period and overtime to help Dallas beat Winnipeg for only the fourth time in their last 15 meetings. The Stars lead 2-0 until Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele tallied in the third period, the last one coming with 45 seconds left in regulation.
In NHL news, the Calgary Flames have a deal for a new downtown arena, a 35-year agreement that keeps the NHL club in the city for that time. The team, the city and the Calgary Stampede rodeo signed the agreement to replace the 36-year-old Scotiabank Saddledome. Construction for the 19,000-seat arena is expected to begin in 2021 and cost more than $417 million. The facility will be built just north of the Saddledome, which will be demolished between 2024 and 2025.
NBA
Will Barton scored 17 points and the Nuggets shot 56% in a 129-92 clobbering of the Knicks. Jerami Grant added 16 and Monte Morris had 15 for Denver, which had eight players score in double figures. The Nuggets ended a two-game skid and dealt New York its eighth straight loss.
The 76ers are just 5-7 on the road after Bradley Beal contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds in the Wizards' 119-113 victory at Philadelphia. Joel Embiid had 26 points and a season-best 21 rebounds for the Sixers and Ben Simmons had 17 points and 10 assists, but the pair combined for 15 turnovers. The 76ers ended up with 21 turnovers leading to 30 Washington points.
The Toronto Raptors were able to keep James Harden in check on Thursday while holding Russell Westbrook to 7-for-27 shooting. That didn't stop the Houston Rockets from sending the defending NBA champs to their second straight home loss since winning their first nine games in Toronto. Ben McLemore dropped in 28 points and the Rockets snapped a three-game road losing streak by beating the Raptors, 119-109. Harden scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half, and Westbrook finished with 19 as Houston improved to 14-7 despite 23 turnovers. Toronto got to within one at 101-100 before the Rockets reeled off a 12-3 run. Pascal Siakam had 24 for Toronto, which fell to 15-6 and dropped a half-game behind Boston for the Atlantic Division lead.
Ricky Rubio delivered four points and a critical assist in overtime to help the Suns get a 139-132 victory over the Pelicans. Devin Booker broke out of a perimeter-shooting slump by scoring 21 of his season-high 44 points in the third quarter, but Phoenix wasted an 18-point lead in the final period. JJ Redick was among four New Orleans players with at least 20 points, finishing with a team-high 26.
In NBA news, former sportscaster Kelli Tennant is seeking dismissal of her sexual assault lawsuit against Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton. Court records show the request for dismissal of the civil case was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Tennant alleged that Walton attacked her when he was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, which was from 2014 to 2016.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
In men’s college basketball, Saint Francis Brooklyn topped Hartford 84-78. In women’s college basketball, Michigan downed Syracuse in overtime 84-76, Central Michigan ripped Iona 70-50, UMass edged New Hampshire 67-65, and UConn took down Seton Hall 92-78.
Auburn needed to stage a late rally to remain unbeaten through eight games of their men's basketball schedule. Christian Okoro scored a season-high 18 points, including two free throws with 1.6 seconds left in overtime, to lift the 14th-ranked Tigers to an 81-78 victory over Furman. The Tigers stormed back from a 14-point, second-half deficit to improve to 8-0. Austin Wiley scored five of his 13 points in OT and finished with 12 rebounds for Auburn.
NFL
The Chicago Bears find themselves back in the mix for an NFC playoff berth after handling the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field on Thursday. Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score in the Bears' 31-24 victory over the slumping Cowboys. Trubisky shook off an early interception near the goal line to complete 23 of 31 passes for 244 yards, helping Chicago improve to 7-6. Allen Robinson caught two TD passes, and Anthony Miller had one as Chicago tied a season high for points while winning for the fourth time in five games. Dak Prescott was 27 of 49 for 334 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys, who have dropped three straight to fall to 6-7. Ezekiel Elliott ran for two scores but was held under 100 yards rushing for the fifth straight game, finishing with 81. Dallas leads the NFC East by a half-game over the Eagles. The Bears have two more losses than the Vikings in the battle for the final NFC wild-card spot.
In NFL news, Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Connor will miss a third straight game as the team tries to bolster their playoff hopes. Conner took some reps with the scout team on Thursday but declared himself out for Sunday's game against Arizona due to his aching right shoulder. He initially hurt the shoulder in the final minutes of a victory over Miami on Oct. 28 and has played part of just one game since. Connor has rushed for 390 yards and four touchdowns on 102 carries this season, including 145 yards in his last full game. The 7-5 Steelers currently are battling the Titans for the second and final AFC wild-card berth.
Broncos star linebacker Von Miller says he might miss Sunday's game against the Texans because of a sprained left knee suffered two weeks ago against the Bills. He was held out last weekend against the Chargers, ending his 95-game starting streak.
The Jaguars have placed linebacker Myles Jack on injured reserve, ending his disappointing season with four games to play. Jack hurt his right knee in a loss at Tennessee two weeks ago and sat out last Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield threw in practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his right hand in Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh. Mayfield's bruised throwing hand remains wrapped, but he zipped passes to Cleveland's running backs and tight ends during the early portion of the workout open to media members.
The Redskins have signed wide receiver Jordan Veasy to their practice squad. Veasy featured in Colin Kaepernick's bizarre workout last month in front of eight NFL teams, catching passes from the quarterback who's been out of the league since 2016.
Cowboys defensive tackle Antwaun Woods has been arrested on charges of possession of 2 to 4 ounces of marijuana and tampering with evidence. Police in the Dallas suburb of Frisco say Woods told them he tried to put out a marijuana cigarette when he knew he was about to be stopped for speeding.
MLB
The Cincinnati Reds and All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas have finalized a four-year, $64 million contract that's the richest free agent deal in franchise history. Moustakas hit .254 with 35 home runs and 87 RBIs for the Brewers last season, recording an .845 OPS and making the All-Star team for a third time. The nine-year major league veteran has belted 182 home runs and driven in 561 runs in 1,131 games for the Royals and Brewers.
Outfielder Jake Marisnick has been acquired by the Mets from the Astros for pitching prospect Blake Taylor and minor league outfielder Kenedy Corona. The 28-year-old Marisnick hit .233 with 10 homers, 34 RBIs and 10 steals last season but is seventh among outfielders with 64 defensive runs save since 2004.
The Brewers acquired catcher Omar Narváez from the Mariners for minor league pitcher Adam Hill and a compensation round pick in next June's amateur draft. Narváez becomes Milwaukee's replacement for Yasmani Grandal, who signed a four-year, $73 million contract with the White Sox.
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