Blackhawks Rally For Win – NHL News And Scores For April 8th

UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks still lead the NHL's Western Conference by five points over Anaheim after both teams won on Sunday.

The Hawks trailed 3-2 until Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews (tayvz) scored 55 seconds apart midway through the third period of a 5-3 triumph over Nashville. Saad, Toews, Andrew Shaw and Patrick Kane each finished with a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks.

Chicago also became the first team to clinch an NHL playoff berth.

The Ducks blew a trio of one-goal leads before Bobby Ryan and Saku Koivu (SAK'-oo KOY'-voo) scored in a shootout to give Anaheim a 4-3 win over Los Angeles. Matt Beleskey had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, and Viktor Fasth made 15 of his 35 saves in the third period.

Elsewhere on ice, Brian Elliott made 28 saves and St. Louis moved into a seventh place in the West by blanking the Red Wings 1-0. Chris Porter scored late in the second period to support Elliott's first shutout of the season and 19th of his career.

Dmitry Kulikov scored a power-play goal midway through the third period to lift Florida over Ottawa 2-1. Scott Clemmensen had 40 saves and Marcel Goc (gahch) also scored as the Panthers handed the Senators their fourth streaight loss.

Minnesota blanked Columbus 3-0 as Niklas Backstrom turned back 24 shots and newcomer Jason Pominville delivered a goal and an assist. The Wild ended a three-game losing streak and stayed two points ahead of seventh-place St. Louis.

San Jose's seven-game winning streak is over after Jamie Benn scored the lone shootout goal to lift Dallas past the Sharks 5-4. The Sharks led 4-2 in the third period until Alex Chiasson (CHAY'-sahn) and Loui Erickson tallied to force overtime.

Alex Ovechkin (oh-VEHCH'-kihn) scored twice and Joel Ward provided the game-winner as Washington beat Tampa Bay 4-2 to take a two-point lead in the Southeast Division. John Carlson also scored in the Capitals' fourth straight win.

Nathan Gerbe (GUR'-bee) scored the lone shootout goal and Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots as Buffalo handed New Jersey its seventh consecutive loss, 3-2. The Devils are two points behind the New York Islanders and Rangers for the last two Eastern Conference playoff berths.

DETROIT (AP) — The Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium, canceled this season due to the NHL lockout, has been rescheduled for Jan. 1 next season. When this year's event was canceled, the league had said it would schedule the next Winter Classic at the stadium, which holds more than 100,000 people.