NHL scores 2017: Mark Stone lifts Senators ever closer to coveted playoff spot

The Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks proved on Sunday that your best players can be propped up by depth scoring and each other.

In Ottawa, Senators winger Mark Stone dragged his goal total up to 12 on the year with a game-tying score and two assists to help Ottawa edge out Edmonton on national television. This isn’t out of the ordinary for Stone, who has eclipsed the 60-point mark for the last two seasons.

But his 0.82 points per game rate is higher than its been in some time, and Stone’s game has truly picked up over the last month (three goals and 11 points in his last 12 games). Over that same span, Karlsson (five points) has slowed down while Stone, Mike Hoffman, and Kyle Turris have picked up the slack. Ottawa’s best players are keeping each other afloat.

Meanwhile, I was struck by something while watching the Blackhawks last night: Jonathan Toews’ winger is Vincent Hinostroza. And Marian Hossa, but focus on the first guy. Not that Hinostroza is bad, mind you. It just made me think about how the Blackhawks are forced to lean on younger players up front due to their cap.

It’s starting to pay off. Ryan Hartman, who had just 13 points before last night, rattled off a natural hat trick to lift Chicago over their division rivals. Maybe the Blackhawks know what they’re doing.

Penguins 6, Lightning 2

Hurricanes 4, Bruins 3

Blue Jackets 2, Flyers 1

Senators 5, Oilers 3

Blackhawks 5, Predators 2

Wild 2, Ducks 1

Columbus’ 16-game win streak came to an end with a thud last week. It wasn’t a close, seat-of-your-pants defeat, either. It was a blowout loss to the Capitals.

How the Jackets would bounce back from that was now the focus. The early returns were not promising, as they gave up five goals to the Rangers on Saturday, including the game-winner with 16.5 seconds left.

And on Sunday, they gave up the game-tying goal ... WITH 16.5 SECONDS LEFT.

That’s the kind of morbid symmetry that can send a team spiraling. But the Blue Jackets rallied in overtime, with Seth Jones creating Nick Foligno’s game-winner. Losing streak averted before it began.

Auston Matthews. Patrik Laine.

... Sebastian Aho?

A mystery challenger enters the Calder Trophy race. The Hurricanes rookie is quietly putting on a season as impressive as the NHL’s more recognizable young guns. He scored twice in Carolina’s win over the Bruins, including the game-winner in overtime. That’s 11 goals and 23 points in Aho’s first 40 NHL games. He’s good.

But they’re great for vengeance.

The Wild and Ducks were knotted up at 1-1 in the second period when two Ducks got sent to the penalty box. In stepped Mat Dumba, who gave the Wild a lead with a 5-on-3 goal that Minnesota never relinquished. And Bruce Boudreau got his win in Anaheim.