NEW YORK: Chicago’s rookie sensation Artemi Panarin scored his first hat trick to lead the Blackhawks to a come-from-behind 5-3 victory at the New York Rangers on Wednesday and a return to the top of the NHL Central Division.
Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Shaw also scored and Corey Crawford made 31 saves to help Chicago hand New York its first regulation loss at home in 11 games.
The Blackhawks, who scored a season-high four power-play goals Monday, got three more against New York. The Rangers were miffed by a controversial late penalty that led to Panarin’s go-ahead goal with 3 minutes to play. He also added an empty-net tally.
Kevin Hayes, Derick Brassard and Dan Boyle scored for New York, which rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period.
Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh returned after missing four games with a concussion.
Avalanche 3, Canadiens 2: In Denver, Jarome Iginla broke a tie with 2:03 left with his second goal of the game in Colorado’s victory over Montreal.
Iginla also had a power-play goal in the second period after having a goal waved off for goaltender interference. He has 17 goals this season to push his career total to 606.
Erik Johnson also added a short-handed goal for the Avalanche.
Andrei Markov and Lars Eller scored for the Canadiens.
Wild 5, Flames 3: In Calgary, Alberta, Jason Pominville had a goal and an assist to help Minnesota beat Calgary.
The Wild have won their first two games under interim coach John Torchetti after a 1-11-2 stretch that cost coach Mike Yeo his job.
Jason Zucker, Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle, into an empty net, also scored for Minnesota. Nino Neiderreiter had two assists, and Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots
Deryk Engelland, David Jones and Mikeal Backlund scored for Calgary.
Wideman’s suspension upheld
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman’s 20-game suspension for cross-checking a linesman.
The NHL announced the appeal decision Wednesday, and the NHL Players’ Association said later that it would further appeal the ruling to neutral arbitrator James Oldham.
Wideman met with Bettman at a hearing in New York last week after the player appealed the suspension handed down Feb. 3 by NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell.
Wideman knocked down linesman Don Henderson during the second period of the Flames’ game against Nashville on Jan. 27. Wideman was checked hard into the boards by Predators winger Miikka Salomaki. Wideman banged his stick on the ice, then knocked down Henderson in front of the Nashville bench. Wideman said he was in pain and was just trying to get off the ice, adding that he couldn’t avoid Henderson.
