Carter’s Late Goals Save Game

Less than three minutes away from seeing his caught by the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Anson Carter personally saved the Boston Bruins.

Carter scored goals at 17:13 and 17:32 of the third period as the Bruins came back for a wild 5-4 victory over the Rangers at New York that gave them a four-point lead in the playoff race.

“I didn’t even know it went in,” said Carter of the winning goal. “I knew I got my stick on it. I thought it went behind the net and I was going to go forecheck after it.”

The teams exchanged seven goals in an offensive third-period free-for-all after playing to a 1-1 standoff through two periods.

Nashville 5, Chicago 3--The Predators scored goals at even strength, on the power play, and shorthanded in the opening 7:43 and held on to end a nine-game home winless streak with a victory over the Blackhawks.

The expansion Predators, who defeated the last-place Blackhawks for the first time in five tries, had gone 0-8-1 and been outscored 40-20 in their previous nine games at Nashville Arena. They scored three goals on their first seven shots.

Carolina 2, Calgary 1--Andrei Kovalenko scored his second goal in three games with the Hurricanes and Arturs Irbe stopped 30 shots in a victory over the Flames at Greensboro, N.C.

Kovalenko, acquired from Philadelphia on March 6 for defenseman Adam Burt, took a pass from Keith Primeau from behind the net and lifted a shot past Ken Wregget 2:32 into the third to snap a 1-1 tie.

San Jose 2, Detroit 0--Steve Shields made 26 saves to lead the Sharks to a victory over the struggling Red Wings at San Jose.

Patrick Marleau and Joe Murphy each scored as the Sharks handed the defending Stanley Cup champions their third consecutive loss. Detroit is 1-3-0 since star forward Sergei Fedorov was suspended for slashing.