rds for defensemen with 16 goals apiece. Werenski is just 20, and Jones is 23. That line should be strong for y

ANAHEIM John Hayden Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt is familiar with the ebbs and flows of the NHL.Schmidt and the Golden Knights continued their surge on Friday night while keeping the Anaheim Ducks in a funk.Max Pacioretty scored in his return to the Vegas lineup and the Golden Knights extended their winning streak to five games, beating the Ducks 3-2 Friday night.The Golden Knights fell behind in the second period when the Ducks scored two goals 18 seconds apart. But Vegas retook the lead with two goals in a 31-second span to improve to 6-0-2 in their last eight games.“We sure tested ourselves a few times early in the second period. But, again, we found a way to win and we’re never going to apologize for that,” said Schmidt, who scored for Vegas. “As the year goes on, you are going to have your surges and a couple times when you’re not playing that well, but I thought our guys, even when we’re down in the game or we’re not playing that well, we find ways to get ourselves back in.”Tomas Nosek had a goal and an assist, Marc Andre-Fleury made 25 saves, and Vegas secured the first three games of the teams’ four-game season series.Nosek tied it at 2-all at 10:15 of the second period. He reached around John Gibson and backhanded in a rebound of a shot by Brayden McNabb. Pacioretty put Vegas back in front 3-2 at 10:46.Playing for the first time since Dec. 17 and missing seven games because of an undisclosed injury Authentic Jonathan Toews Jersey , Pacioretty got behind two Ducks in transition and scored off a pass from Paul Stastny.It was the seventh time Pacioretty and Stastny have played together this season, as both have dealt with injuries. But chemistry displayed on Pacioretty’s 11th goal showed why Vegas signed Stastny as a free agent in July, traded for Pacioretty in September and signed him to a contract extension.“It’s been a start to the season that no one drew up with injuries and playing through them and sitting out for both of us,” Pacioretty said. “To be able to come in now and feel pretty good and kind of start from scratch and put together a good win as a line is a good step.”Daniel Sprong and Carter Rowney scored for the Ducks, who dropped to 0-5-2 in their last seven games. Gibson made 39 saves.Sprong scored on the power play at 1:57 to tie the game at 1. Rowney then put the Ducks ahead 2-1 at 2:15 by catching the Golden Knights on an odd-man rush.“If we can put the good minutes we had this night, if we can put them over like more of 50, 60 minutes, we’re going to be successful,” Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm said.The Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead at 6:52 on the first period when Schmidt scored on a slap shot from the blue line through traffic during a delayed penalty. Gibson made a save and paddled the puck away during the buildup to Schmidt’s fourth goal, but the officials did not stop play.Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said he never receiver an explanation why there was not a whistle, and refused to elaborate on the sequence.“I’ve been fined once before, so my wife doesn’t like me writing big checks to the league Custom Minnesota Wild Jerseys ,” Carlyle said.NOTES: The Golden Knights improved to 16-0-2 when leading after two periods. . Vegas F Alex Tuch had an assist to extend his point streak to five games, with two goals and four assists in that span. . Vegas D Shea Theodore did not play because of illness.UP NEXTGolden Knights: Host New Jersey on Sunday.Ducks: Host Edmonton on Sunday. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) In a season of broken records and firsts for the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the most important eluded them again: winning a playoff series.The Blue Jackets’ promising season fizzled out in Game 6 of their opening-round series against the Washington Capitals. They were stunning at times – like in the first two games, both won in OT – but glaringly not good enough the rest of the way. Columbus’ power play went to sleep, and the Capitals took four in a row, capping it with a 6-3 victory Monday night.Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made some acrobatic saves throughout the series, but he also allowed a goal or two he should have knocked down.”We did not make big plays,” coach John Tortorella said. ”At times, we didn’t get a big save. That goes right on through the team. I’m not just saying (Bobrovsky), but the whole team. That’s why you’re out in six. It’s tough in the playoffs. We have a number of things we need to get better at, as individuals and as a team.”There are reasons to be optimistic about the future of this young team. It battled through slumps and myriad injuries to key players Patrick Kane Jersey , climbing back in the Metropolitan Division race with a 10-game winning streak. It played its grittiest hockey in February and March and emerged as a wild card from a mix of teams that all came on strong to finish.”I’m so proud to lead this team, but I just want to see something good happen for our team,” said captain Nick Foligno, who scored two goals on Monday. ”I want us to realize the potential we have in here, and I want it to happen now.”RECORDS AND FIRSTSColumbus traded last offseason for forward Artemi Panarin, who became the star the team had hoped he would be. He broke Rick Nash’s franchise record for points with 82 (27 goals, 55 assists).He was great in the first three games of the playoffs but went quiet as Washington figured out how to pressure him.The Blue Jackets sorely need another guy performing at Panarin’s level. That could turn out to be Pierre Luc-Dubois, who broke franchise rookie records this season for goals and points (20-28-48). He centered the top line next to Panarin, and Tortorella said the playoffs contributed to his growth.”At 19 years old, pushed into the forefront as far as being our No. 1 center and coming into this series against a team that’s pretty deep in the middle, he handled himself very well,” Tortorella said. ”Were there some minutes he struggled? Yeah www.montrealcanadiensteamshops.com , but he’s 19. It’s just a great process for him to go through early in his career.”SPARKLING BLUE LINEThe first-line defensive duo of Zach Werenski and Seth Jones again was one of the best in the NHL. Both set franchise scoring records for defensemen with 16 goals apiece. Werenski is just 20, and Jones is 23. That line should be strong for years to come.QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONSAfter losing in the first round of each of four playoffs in its 17-season history, Columbus remains the only currently existing NHL franchise to never have won a playoff series.What can get the Blue Jackets over the hump?Another elite sniper to complement Panarin?A much better season from forward Cam Atkinson? The former All-Star was the team’s leading scorer last season but missed 17 games because of injury this time and never found his mojo. Other usually reliable forwards – including Foligno, Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner – also were unspectacular.Will the Blue Jackets pay up to keep Bobrovsky and Panarin? Both Russians have contracts that run through next season but are eligible for extensions in July. Panarin, who made $6 million against the cap this season, will be able to command a big raise.—