WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Braden Holtby made 19 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and two assists in the Washington Capitals’ 4-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Thursday.



Nicklas Backstrom added a goal and an assist for Washington, while Troy Brouwer and Marcus Johansson also scored.



Holtby also blanked Winnipeg 3-0 on March 2, giving him the only shutouts against Winnipeg this season.



Winnipeg stayed in the Southeast Division’s top spot and third place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, who lost 4-1 to New Jersey Thursday night.



Canadiens 5, Islanders 2: Brian Gionta scored the tie-breaking goal 48 seconds into the third period and the Montreal Canadiens added two more goals in the final 20 minutes as they pulled away from the New York Islanders, 5-2, at Nassau Coliseum.



David Desharnais set up the goal by snaring a puck out of the air, placing it on the ice and dishing to Gionta, who managed to put enough of his stick on the puck to send it past Kevin Poulin.



Brendan Gallagher provided insurance for the Canadiens by scoring two goals in a span of just 33 seconds later in the period. Michael Ryder and P.K. Subban scored power play goals in the first and second period, respectively.



Panthers 3, Rangers 1: The Florida Panthers have struggled through a season full of losses and injuries, but were still able to add to the New York Rangers’ frustrations with a 3-1 win at Madison Square Garden.



Brian Campbell and Scottie Upshall scored and Tommas Kopecky added an empty-netter late for the Panthers, who managed to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season.



Jacob Markstrom had 44 saves for Florida (9-16-6), which emerged with the victory despite the Rangers dominating on shots with 45 to the Panthers’ 24.



Predators 5, Flames 3: The Nashville Predators took a first step to making the Western Conference playoffs, opening a critical four-game homestand with a 5-3 win over Calgary.



Mike Fisher potted two goals, including the tie-breaker at 13:24 of the second period, as Nashville (12-13-6) snapped a four-game losing streak.



Martin Erat, Nick Spaling and Brandon Yip also found the net for the Predators, who entered the match 13th in the West.



Bruins 2, Senators 1: The Boston Bruins found the cure for their blues at a favorite watering hole.



It was the Bruins’ 11th consecutive win at Scotiabank Place.



Other results: Sabres 5, Maple Leafs 4 (SO); Vacouver 2, Phoenix 1; Dallas 2, Los Angeles 0. — Agencies