NHL scores: Blackhawks edge Rangers 2-1

The puck, shot by Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ryan Hartman, gets by New York Rangers goalie Antti Raanta and bounces off the goal post during the third period of an NHL hockey game in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. (AP / Julie Jacobson)

NEW YORK - Artem Anisimov scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period to lead the Chicago Blackhawks over the New York Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Trevor van Riemsdyk also scored as the Central Division leaders improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games. Scott Darling stopped 33 shots, upping his record to 7-2-2.

Artemi Panarin had two assists and Anisimov had one as Chicago got even with New York following a 1-0 overtime loss at home to the Rangers last Friday.

Jesper Fast scored for the Rangers and Antti Raanta, starting for the fourth straight game, made 24 saves. Raanta had won three consecutive starts, including shutouts in the last two. New York had won four of its last five.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.

CAPITALS 4, ISLANDERS 2

Matt Niskanen scored two goals in the third period to lift Washington over New York for its fifth straight victory.

Brett Connolly and Justin Williams also scored for the Capitals (18-7-3).

Following a five-game winning streak, the Islanders have dropped their last two. New York's 11-12-5 record is the worst in the Metropolitan Division.

Brock Nelson and Nikolay Kulemin scored for the Islanders, and Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves.

HURRICANES 8, CANUCKS 6

RALEIGH, N.C. - Justin Faulk scored the go-ahead goal 5:56 into the third period and Carolina rallied from three goals down to beat Vancouver.

Jeff Skinner had two goals, with his second starting Carolina's wild comeback. The Hurricanes scored six goals in the third - including four in a 4:40 span - to erase a 5-2 deficit.

Ron Hainsey and Victor Rask scored 24 seconds apart before Faulk put Carolina back up with a wrist shot that clicked off Nikita Tryamkin on its way past Ryan Miller.

Jordan Staal added an insurance goal with 7:22 left, and Brandon Sutter made it 7-6 with 5:50 to play before Lee Stempniak scored an empty-netter with 57.6 seconds remaining.

Sven Baertschi had two goals and an assist for the Canucks. Baertschi, Alexandre Burrows, Markus Granlund and Ben Hutton all scored during Vancouver's four-goal second period.

Sebastian Aho scored an early goal for Carolina and Michael Leighton made 13 saves in relief of Cam Ward, who stopped 15 shots.

Miller made 24 saves but was pulled after Faulk's goal in favour of Jacob Markstrom.

SABRES 6, KINGS 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Jack Eichel scored two goals in 2:08 of the second period and assisted on another to lead Buffalo past Los Angeles.

Ryan O'Reilly and Brian Gionta also scored for the Sabres during a four-goal flurry in a 6:13 span of the second.

Eichel set up Evander Kane for an insurance goal late in the third and Sam Reinhart scored into an empty net in the final minute.

Kyle Okposo assisted on three of Buffalo's goals, giving him 11 points in his last 10 games and a team-high 21 points this season. Okposo played after missing Monday's practice due to illness.

Robin Lehner made 13 of his 30 saves in the third period and won for just the second time in his last 11 starts.

Jeff Carter scored twice for the Kings, and Anze Kopitar had the other goal. Peter Budaj made 16 saves before being replaced by Jeff Zatkoff in the second period.

The Kings have lost three of four and have not won in Buffalo since Feb. 21, 2003.

BLUE JACKETS 3, OILERS 1

EDMONTON, Alberta - Sam Gagner had a goal and an assist, and Columbus won its seventh straight game by beating Edmonton.

Cam Atkinson and Matt Calvert also scored to help the Blue Jackets (18-5-4) improve to 8-0-1 in their last nine games.

Tyler Pitlick had the goal for the Oilers (15-12-5), who have lost five of six.

STARS 6, DUCKS 2

DALLAS - Dan Hamhuis opened Dallas' five-goal third period against Anaheim with his first of the season on his 34th birthday.

Hamhuis tipped in Jamie Benn's cross-ice pass on the power play at 5:41, tying it at 2. Adam Cracknell, Patrick Eaves and Benn then scored to drive Ducks goalie John Gibson from the game at 12:24. Radek Faksa added an empty-netter at 13:57.

Dallas had lost six of eight. Anaheim was 6-1-1 in its previous eight.

Antti Niemi made 34 saves to improve to 6-1-1 at home this season.

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry scored for the Ducks.

WILD 5, PANTHERS 1

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Devan Dubnyk made 29 saves and Minnesota defeated Florida for its fifth straight victory.

Zach Parise, Erik Haula, Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu and Jason Zucker scored for Minnesota, which has points in 10 of its last 11 games. Zucker added an assist, and Jason Pominville and Jonas Brodin each had two assists for the Wild.

Roberto Luongo's regrettable history in Minnesota continued as he stopped 12 of 17 shots before being pulled midway through the third period. Luongo is 0-7 and has been pulled in four of his last seven games at the Xcel Energy Center.

Dylan McIlrath scored his first goal of the season for the Panthers, who have one win in their past six games.

Dubynk is 7-0-2 in his last nine games and leads the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage.

PREDATORS 6, BLUES 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mike Fisher scored twice and Nashville erased a three-goal deficit to beat St. Louis.

James Neal, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Mike Ribeiro also scored for the Predators, who snapped a two-game skid.

After trailing 3-0 early in the second period, Nashville scored six straight goals to earn its 10th home victory of the season. Fisher got the go-ahead goal off a pass from Colin Wilson at 9:02 of the third period.

Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Reaves and Brad Hunt scored for St. Louis, which has lost three of four.

SHARKS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2, SO

TORONTO - Logan Couture scored the only goal in a shootout, and San Jose rallied to beat Toronto.

The Sharks trailed 2-0 before Justin Braun and Joe Pavelski scored in a quick burst in the third period. Martin Jones made 29 saves in the opener of a four-game road trip.

Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped five of six. Frederik Andersen made 40 stops.

Jones denied Mitchell Marner, Matthews and Nikita Soshnikov in the tiebreaker, and Couture was successful in the second round.

COYOTES 4, RED WINGS 1

DETROIT - Jamie McGinn scored twice in Arizona's victory over Detroit.

Lawson Crouse and defenceman Anthony DeAngelo also scored for Arizona. Peter Holland had two assists in his Coyotes debut, and Mike Smith made 37 saves.

Andreas Athanasiou scored for the Red Wings, and Jimmy Howard stopped 15 shots.