Associated Press
The NHL roundup …
WASHINGTON ó Alex Ovechkin scored another spectacular, how-did-he-do-that goal while sliding on the ice, helping the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Hooked and jabbed off his skates as he headed toward the net, the league’s reigning MVP slid on his right side toward the crease and had the presence of mind to poke the puck under the right pad of Montreal goaltender Carey Price.
Blue Jackets 4, Blues 3
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Steve Mason made 21 saves ó none bigger than a key stop in the closing seconds ó to lead Columbus six games over .500 for the first time in the team’s eight-year history.
The victory lifted Columbus into a tie for fifth in the Western Conference with Vancouver, both with 64 points. The Blue Jackets (29-23-6), who have never made the playoffs, have 11 points in their last six games.
Rick Nash, Manny Malhotra and Fedor Tyutin each had a goal and an assist.
Red Wings 6, Predators 2
DETROIT ó Nicklas Lidstrom and Johan Franzen each had two goals and an assist and the Detroit Red Wings got five power-play goals to beat the Nashville Predators 6-2 Wednesday night.
Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler added a goal and as assist each for Detroit, which broke a two-game losing streak. Ty Conklin made 23 saves.
Rangers 3, Islanders 1
NEW YORK ó Scott Gomez’s power-play goal in the second period snapped a tie and gave the Rangers and coach Tom Renney a much-needed win.
The Rangers did enough against their biggest rival to earn their second win in 10 games (2-6-2).
Nigel Dawes scored in the first period, Fredrik Sjostrom added an empty-netter, and Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves and earned an assist for the Rangers.