Avalanche Fight Off Rangers – NHL Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — Max Pacioretty and the Montreal Canadiens now find themselves atop the NHL's Eastern Conference standings following a convincing win over a bitter rival.

Pacioretty scored twice and Carey Price needed to make just 21 saves as the Habs hammered Boston 5-1. Dale Wiese (wees) tied the game by scoring on a penalty shot 2 ½ minutes into the second period before Lars Eller notched the game-winner. Eller and Wiese also had one assist apiece for the Canadiens, who improved to 12-4-1.

The Canadiens were able to take over the conference lead when Tampa Bay fell to San Jose 2-1. Joe Thornton and Tyler Kennedy scored second-period goals to support Antti Niemi (AN'-tee nee-EH'-mee), who turned back 32 shots and blanked the Lightning until Steven Stamkos beat him with 10:25 remaining.

Also in the NHL:

— St. Louis made it nine wins in its last 10 games by downing Nashville 4-3 on Paul Stasny's (STAS'-neez) goal with 5:54 left. Vladimir Tarasenko scored once and had an assist, giving him six goals and 12 points during his career-high seven-game scoring streak.

— Kari Lehtonen (KAH'-ree LEH'-toh-nehn) picked up his first shutout of the season and 28 of his career with a 27-save effort in the Dallas Stars' 2-0 win at Los Angeles. Ryan Garbutt and Jason Spezza (SPEHT'-suh) did the scoring for the Stars.

— Nino Niederreiter (NEE'-dur-eye-tur) capped his first career hat trick by scoring into an empty net to secure Minnesota's 6-3 win over Buffalo. Ryan Carter and Kyle Brodziak each added a goal and an assist as the Wild ended a four-game losing streak.

— Paul Byron scored twice and Calgary picked up its fifth victory in seven games by downing Arizona 5-3. The Flames squandered a 3-1 lead before Mark Giordano snapped a 3-3 tie late in the second period.

— Nathan McKinnon scored the game-tying goal in the third period before adding a shootout tally in Colorado's 4-3 win over the Rangers in New York. Alex Tanguay (TAN'-gay) had the deciding shootout goal and also scored in the second period to help the Avalanche win for just the second time in seven games.

— Mike Hoffman's second goal of the night came at 2:39 of overtime to push Ottawa past the Oilers 4-3 at Edmonton. Milan Michalek (mih-HAH'-lehk) put the Senators ahead 3-0 in the first period before the Oilers stormed back.

— Blake Wheeler had two goals, including the game-winner in the second period of Winnipeg's 3-1 triumph at Carolina. The Jets have won five of their last seven and are 2-1 on their five-game road trip.