Canucks End Losing Streak on Fluke Goal

Brendan Morrison’s pass struck Columbus forward Manny Malhotra and caromed into the net, breaking a third-period tie and giving the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets on Friday night at Columbus, Ohio.

The victory ended a season-high, five-game losing streak for the Canucks. It also moved them past the Kings and into a sixth-place tie with Edmonton in the Western Conference.

Morrison’s attempted centering pass from the left corner hit Malhotra and landed behind goaltender Pascal Leclaire with 6:11 remaining.

The Blue Jackets, well out of the playoff race, have lost three in a row. Their last five games have been decided by one goal.

Tampa Bay 6, Philadelphia 3 -- Rookie Ryan Craig had his first two-goal game in the NHL to help the host Lightning beat the Flyers for the eighth consecutive time.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning is seventh in the Eastern Conference. It has a three-point lead over eighth-place Montreal and a four-point lead over ninth-place Atlanta.

Florida 4, New York Islanders 2 -- Juraj Kolnik scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:07 left at Sunrise, Fla., lifting the Panthers past the Islanders.