GLENDALE – Bobby Ryan knocked in the deciding goal in a shootout and the Anaheim Ducks stayed in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race with a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.
Todd Marchant had a pair of primary assists for the Ducks, who climbed into a tie with idle Dallas and Minnesota for ninth place with 74 points. The top eight teams in the conference will make the playoffs.
Anaheim, coming off a 4-3 overtime victory at home over Nashville on Wednesday night, took a 2-1 lead when Phoenix’s Kyle Turris deflected the puck into his own net with 7:01 to play.
The Coyotes tied it on Matthew Lombardi’s goal with 2:31 left in regulation. He took a pass in the crease from Scottie Upshall, and knocked it off the right post and across the line for the score.
Capitals 5, Lightning 2: At Tampa, Fla., Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 50th goal to become Washington’s first three-time 50-goal scorer.
Kings 3, Bruins 2, OT: At Boston, Dustin Brown scored with 34 seconds left in overtime for Los Angeles after rookie defenseman Drew Doughty tied it with 1:36 remaining in regulation.
Sharks 3, Predators 2, SO: At San Jose, Calif., Jonathan Cheechoo scored the winning shootout goal with a deft backhand, and Evgeni Nabokov made 25 saves for San Jose.
Senators 5, Canadiens 4: At Ottawa, Jason Spezza scored goals 52 seconds apart late in the first period, and Daniel Alfredsson added a goal and an assist for Ottawa.
Canucks 3, Blues 0: At Vancouver, British Columbia, Roberto Luongo made 30 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and first in four months, and Vancouver extended its franchise-record home winning streak to 11 games.
Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 1: At Sunrise, Fla., Stephen Weiss had a short-handed goal and an assist, and Tomas Vokoun made 37 saves to help Florida end a four-game losing streak.
Oilers 8, Avalanche 1: At Denver, Sam Gagner had three goals and an assist, and Dwayne Roloson, making his Edmnonton-record 26th straight start, made 26 saves.