Dough Weight wins in Islanders’ coaching debut

John Tavares scored two goals and Thomas Greiss stopped 23 shots for his second straight shutout as the host New York Islanders beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Thursday night in their first game under head coach Doug Weight . Tavares, who scored three times Friday, nearly had another hat trick but his shot at an empty net in the closing moments deflected wide.

Ducks hold off Avalanche 2-1 in game delayed by glass break

Nick Ritchie scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:02 to play, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Thursday night in a game featuring a 45-minute delay and an early second intermission due to broken glass. John Gibson made 21 saves and Hampus Lindholm scored the tying power-play goal early in the third period of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks’ eighth victory in 10 games.

Couture lifts Sharks past Lightning 2-1

Logan Couture scored 22 seconds into the third period and the San Jose Sharks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday night. Jonathan Drouin scored for the Lightning, who fell to 2-6-1 in their last nine games and 2-9-3 over their past 14 road games.

Thursday’s Games

Ryan Ellis had his first career two-goal game as the Nashville Predators held off a late rally to beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Thursday night. TORONTO – Michael Grabner observed a different-looking Toronto Maple Leafs squad than the last-place group he left behind last season, one with plenty more speed and skill.

Connor McDavid scores in overtime as Edmonton Oilers top Florida Panthers 4-3

On the night when McDavid reached 100 points in the first period, he then gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 OT victory when he’d been on the ice for a full minute and was dead-tired but still got free on a breakaway winner. His backhand was caught by Florida goalie James Reimer but video replay showed Reimer’s mitt was just inside the post, with the netminder’s leather up against the webbing.

Connor McDavid scores in overtime as Edmonton Oilers top Florida Panthers 4-3

On the night when McDavid reached 100 points in the first period, he then gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 OT victory when he’d been on the ice for a full minute and was dead-tired but still got free on a breakaway winner. His backhand was caught by Florida goalie James Reimer but video replay showed Reimer’s mitt was just inside the post, with the netminder’s leather up against the webbing.

Connor McDavid scores in overtime as Edmonton Oilers top Florida Panthers 4-3

On the night when McDavid reached 100 points in the first period, he then gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 OT victory when he’d been on the ice for a full minute and was dead-tired but still got free on a breakaway winner. His backhand was caught by Florida goalie James Reimer but video replay showed Reimer’s mitt was just inside the post, with the netminder’s leather up against the webbing.

Doug Weight’s 40-game Isles audition starts with a spat

The Doug Weight era began with a near fight, Islanders teammates Ryan Strome and Calvin de Haan dropping the gloves during a drill, though no punches were thrown. The day after coach Jack Capuano lost his job 42 games into his seventh season, the Isles looked to turn the page, and a scrap in practice was one sign of a potential change in fortunes.

Mikael Frolik stays hot as Calgary Flames beat Florida Panthers 5-2

Flanked by another veteran in Michael Frolik and rambunctious rookie Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary centre Mikael Backlund continues to be one of the hottest players in the NHL. Backlund scored twice in a 13-second span in the second period to break a 2-2 tie and also added an assist as the Flames beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Tuesday night .

Henrik Sedin scores winner for 999th career point as Canucks down Predators 1-0

Henrik Sedin scored the winner in the third period for the 999th point of his NHL career and Ryan Miller made 30 saves as the Vancouver Canucks shut out the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Tuesday night. With the teams playing a tight, close-checking game, Sedin fired a Luca Sbisa rebound off the end boards off Predators goalie Pekka Rinne and in with 7:32 left in regulation for his 10th goal of the season and first in nine games.

Rakell’s rocket in OT puts surging Ducks past Lightning, 2-1

Rickard Rakell scored a power-play goal off a faceoff 54 seconds into overtime, and the surging Anaheim Ducks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 Tuesday night for their seventh win in nine games Rakell’s rocket in OT puts surging Ducks past Lightning, 2-1 Rickard Rakell scored a power-play goal off a faceoff 54 seconds into overtime, and the surging Anaheim Ducks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 Tuesday night for their seventh win in nine games Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2k38YiB Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Nesterov, left, of Russia, avoids a check by Anaheim Ducks’ Antoine Vermette during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. ANAHEIM, Calif.

Preview: Leafs, Sabres Renew Rivalry

Maple Leafs 101 provides 24/7 obsessive sports coverage of the Toronto Maple Leafs as a part of Sports Media 101 . For news, op/ed, game reviews, team updates and even rumors you will find all of it on Maple Leafs 101.

Moral Support

I am writing to you, not because you broke four sticks in two games. No sir, I am writing you to point out some similarities I see between you and two other megastars I’ve watched over the years.

LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar misses game due to illness

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, of Slovenia, moves the puck as Winnipeg Jets right wing Drew Stafford, center, reaches in and defenseman Derek Forbort skates behind during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, of Slovenia, moves the puck as Winnipeg Jets right wing Drew Stafford, center, reaches in and defenseman Derek Forbort skates behind during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Los Angeles.

Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser honoured as giant of women’s hockey retires

Hayley Wickenheiser, who led Canada to four Winter Olympic gold medals and a silver during her distinguished career, was honoured during a special pre-game ceremony prior to puck drop between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers at Roger Place on Saturday. The 38-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., who announced her retirement from hockey on Friday, has lived in Calgary since she was 12 but has been a life-long Oilers fan, making the game between the two Alberta-based rivals the ideal place for a tribute in her eyes.

Surging Wild beat Blackhawks, 3-2, for Western Conference lead

CHICAGO – Playing on the road for the second straight night against one of their biggest rivals, Devan Dubnyk and the Minnesota Wild rallied to another impressive victory. Dubnyk made 33 saves, Jason Pominville scored in the third period and Minnesota beat the Blackhawks, 3-2, on Sunday to grab sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference.

Carter gets OT winner as LA Kings surge past Jets, 3-2

The Kings hit iron with an extraordinary number of shots Saturday night, culminating in a late backhand by Kyle Clifford that somehow struck both sides of Winnipeg’s goal without going in. “He can’t hit the net, but he can hit both posts,” Los Angeles defenseman Jake Muzzin said jokingly of his low-scoring buddy.

Bernier gets shutout, Ducks beat Coyotes 3-0

Bernier, starting in goal for the first time since Dec. 20, had 26 saves in the Anaheim Ducks’ 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night. Lindholm’s second goal of the season came 5:49 into the opening period and Ritchie got his 10th just 35 seconds into the third.

Zucker scores winning goal, Wild beat Stars 5-4

Jason Zucker was in the right place at the right time to score the winner with 6:45 to play and Minnesota beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Saturday night after blowing a four-goal lead. Zucker skated into the paint as goalie Kari Lehtonen blocked Mikael Granlund’s wrist shot from the left corner.