Associated Press
From around the NHL…
CHICAGO ó Marian Hossa scored two power-play goals less than 3 minutes apart to ignite a five-goal outburst by Chicago in the second period, and the Blackhawks rolled to a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane each had a goal and an assist in the second as Chicago snapped an 0-1-2 streak and moved into fourth place in the Western Conference with 84 points.
Kaneís goal was the 100th of his career.
Viktor Stalberg and Niklas Hjalmarsson also scored, and Patrick Sharp had a career-high four assists for the Blackhawks, who improved to 11-2-4 in their last 17 games.
Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks, who lost in regulation for just the fourth time in their last 25 games.
Hossaís goals were his 20th and 21st, giving him 20 or more in 11 straight seasons.
Lightning 6, Maple Leafs 2
TORONTO ó Mattias Ritola scored twice and Dwayne Roloson made 30 saves as Tampa Bay dealt a blow to Torontoís playoff hopes.
Nate Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Vincent Lecavalier, Dominic Moore and Mike Lundin also scored as Tampa Bay kept Toronto six points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Teddy Purcell picked up three assists and Martin St. Louis and Brett Clark added two each for the Lightning.
Dion Phaneuf and Nikolai Kulemin scored for Toronto.
Koivu, Clutterbuck return
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ó Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu returned Monday night against the Vancouver Canucks after missing 11 games with a broken finger.
Fellow forward Cal Clutterbuck also was back in the lineup for Minnesota after being sidelined four games because of a concussion.
The Wild went 4-5-2 without Koivu, who centers the top line and is still second on the team with 49 points despite missing more than three weeks. Minnesota was shut out in its last two games and is four points out of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Clutterbuck, who leads the NHL with 298 hits, hasnít played since being slammed into the boards by New York Islanders forward Trevor Gillies March 2.
Gillies was suspended 10 games for his hit on Clutterbuck, who has a career-high 18 goals.
Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner also returned after missing three games with an abdominal injury.
The Associated Press
03/14/11 22:13