Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, second from left, celebrates with teammates after an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) – Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander each scored twice, Thatcher Demko made 39 saves and the Vancouver Canucks defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night in battle of first-place NHL teams.
J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser also scored goals while and Pettersson, Boeser and Filip Hronek had two assists apiece for Vancouver, which won for the third time in four games.
After missing the playoffs for three straight seasons, the improved Canucks lead the Pacific Division with a 26-11-3 record. The Rangers lead the Metropolitan Division.
Vincent Trocheck had two goals and Artemi Panarin also scored for the Rangers, who lost their second straight for just the second time this season. Alexis Lafreniere had two assists. Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves.
Elsewhere in the NHL on Monday:
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STARS 4 WILD 0
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Matt Murray stopped 23 shots for his first career NHL shutout, and Dallas scored two short-handed goals to snap a three-game losing streak.
Tyler Seguin and Roope Hintz each had a goal and an assist for Dallas.
The Stars’ fourth-best in the NHL penalty kill (85 per cent) was perfect on six Wild power-play opportunities.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 16 saves but missed in his first chance to pass Patrick Roy for sole possession of second place on the NHL’s career wins list.
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PENGUINS 4 FLYERS 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in a scrappy contest on Monday night.
Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson and Chad Ruhwedel also scored for Pittsburgh, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 36 saves.
Owen Tippett scored for the Flyers, who have lost seven of nine.
The game was feisty between the in-state rivals, with several scrums around the net and in the corners after plays. The teams combined for 11 penalties that totalled 24 minutes.
POKE CHECKS: In Monday’s late game, the Colorado Avalanche host the Boston Bruins.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
