Canucks snap 9-game skid

SAN JOSE, California — Another home loss by San Jose means the Sharks will almost assuredly start the postseason on the road. Jannik Hansen scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:03 remaining and the Vancouver Canucks snapped a nine-game losing streak by beating San Jose 4-2 Thursday night. Couture and Patrick Marleau scored and Martin Jones made 22 saves for the Sharks, who lost for the 22nd time at home to fall five points behind Los Angeles and four back of Anaheim in the Pacific Division. With San Jose having just four games left, while the Kings have five and the Ducks will play six, it is becoming increasingly harder for the Sharks to move up in the standings. With their seed in the playoffs almost settled, the Sharks lacked the energy they had when clinching a postseason spot Monday against Los Angeles. “It’s tough to manufacture,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “Let’s be honest. Everybody knows kind of where we’re at. So that’s the reality of the situation, too. You can talk about it all you want, and of course everyone wants to win 10 in a row going into the playoffs.” Hurricanes 4, Rangers 3 Victor Rask’s power-play goal capped a rally that lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Patrick Brown’s first NHL goal along with goals from Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner gave the Hurricanes clutch offense. Mats Zuccarello, Rich Nash and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who drop to third in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins with the same amount of games played. Penguins 5, Predators 2 Phil Kessel scored two goals to lead Pittsburgh over Nashville. Kris Letang and Nick Bonino each scored a goal and set up another as the NHL’s hottest team won its fourth in a row and 10th in 11 games. Patric Hornqvist also scored for Pittsburgh. Ryan Johansen and James Neal scored for the Predators. Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 3 Anders Lee was credited with the game-winning goal early in the third period as New York moved closer to clinching a playoff berth by edging Columbus at Barclays Center. John Tavares scored twice in the first period and Thomas Hickey also scored in the first for the wild card race-leading Islanders, who won their third in a row to move six points ahead of the ninth-place Detroit Red Wings. Brandon Dubinsky scored in the first, Brandon Saad scored in the second and Boone Jenner tied the game 37 seconds into the third for the Blue Jackets, who have lost four straight and eight of 10. Sabres 4, Maple Leafs 1 Cal O’Reilly and Johan Larsson each had two goals to lead Buffalo over Toronto. Chad Johnson was solid between the pipes for the Sabrs, making 25 saves. Brooks Laich scored the lone goal for the Maple Leafs. Panthers 3, Devils 2 Jonathan Huberdeau scored two goals, and behind a strong defensive effort, Florida earned a win over New Jersey. The Panthers tied the franchise record for wins in a season (43) set in 1999-2000 and their 95 points now put this year’s team second in franchise history, surpassing the 2011-12 division champion squad. Other results: Canadiens 3, Lightning 0; Senators 3, Wild 2; Stars 4, Coyotes 1; Kings 3, Flames 0. — Agencies