Power-play goal carries Capitals past Penguins

Matt Niskanen scored the winner during a third-period power play and the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, at home Tuesday night in an entertaining, back-and-forth showdown that could be a first-round playoff preview.

Mike Richards and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for the NHL-leading Capitals, who had trailed, 2-0, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves while becoming the first goaltender in franchise history with consecutive 40-win seasons.

Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 - Joakim Nordstrom scored on a rebound with 1 minute, 29 seconds left and Carolina won in Newark, N.J., in a game between teams fading from playoff contention.

Derek Ryan, playing his first NHL game at age 29, also scored as the Hurricanes snapped a three-game losing streak.

Adam Henrique scored for New Jersey, which lost its third straight and sixth in seven games.

Bruins 2, Flames 1 - Patrice Bergeron scored a tiebreaking goal with 3:24 left in the third period and Boston beat Calgary at home.

The Bruins won for the third time in four games. The Flames lost their sixth straight.

Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo was suspended five games without pay for an illegal hit to the head in Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Rinaldo took out Lightning forward Cedric Paquette against the boards in the first period of Tampa Bay's 4-1 victory. The former Flyer was assessed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head.