WINNIPEG — Alexander Wennberg scored twice as the Columbus Blue Jackets won their 14th successive game with a 5-3 victory over the Jets in Winnipeg Thursday, tying the National Hockey League’s third-longest winning streak.
The Blue Jackets matched the unbeaten runs achieved by the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and the 2009-10 Washington Capitals.
They are now three wins shy of drawing level with the all-time record of 17 consecutive victories set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Nick Foligno had a goal and two assists for Columbus while Brandon Saad and Lukas Sedlak also scored for the visitors.
Shawn Matthias, Bryan Little and Mathieu Perreault scored for Winnipeg.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 of 34 shots to help Columbus improve to a league-best 25-5-4 and they will next be in action Saturday when they visit the Minnesota Wild, who are riding a 12-game winning streak.
The Blue Jackets, who finished 27th in the 30-team league last season, have not been beaten since they were edged out 2-1 in a shootout by the Florida Panthers on Nov. 26.
They have not lost in regulation since they succumbed 2-0 to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 23.
Wild 6, Islanders 4
Minnesota extended its winning streak to 12 games with a 6-4 win over the New York Islanders.
Wild forward Nino Niederreiter fired a shot that pinballed off Erik Haula’s left leg, then right leg, then past goalie Jean-Francois Berube and into the net to put Minnesota up 5-4 with 9:30 remaining.
Mikael Granlund’s empty-net goal with 1:41 to play sealed the Wild’s 12th straight victory, which extends a franchise record for longest winning streak.
Blackhawks 3, Predators 2
Patrick Kane’s 700th career point, a tie-breaking goal at 14:48 of the third period, lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators.
Kane ripped a wrist shot from the faceoff circle by Pekka Rinne for his 11th goal of the season, enabling Chicago to snap a season-high three-game losing streak.
Corey Crawford made 36 saves for the Blackhawks, while Rinne stopped 20 shots.
Bruins 4, Sabres 2
Ryan Spooner scored with 3:53 remaining then added an empty net goal with less than a minute left to lead the Boston Bruins to a win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Krejci and Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit. Tuukka Rask made 31 saves.
Marcus Foligno and Kyle Okposo scored for the Sabres, while Robin Lehner made 34 saves.
Canadiens 3, Panthers 2 (OT)
Phillip Danault scored a breakaway goal 39 seconds into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens rallied to beat the Florida Panthers.
Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher scored for Montreal while Alexander Radulov, Nathan Beaulieu, Danault and Pacioretty recorded assists. Goaltender Al Montoya posted 31 saves.
Maple Leafs 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their fourth consecutive road game with an overtime power-play goal on a rebound by Nazem Kadri with 1:23 left for a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 shots, while Toronto’s Antonie Bibeau made 25 saves.
Red Wings 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Anthony Mantha scored at 1:07 of overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Devils 2, Capitals 1 (SO)
Keith Kinkaid stopped 43 shots, while Michael Cammalleri and Jacob Josefson scored shootout goals as the Devils defeated the Washington Capitals.
Other results: Stars 4, Avalanche 2; Oilers 3, Kings 1; Ducks 3, Flames 1; Rangers 6, Coyotes 3. — Reuters
