Highlights of Thursday's NHL games

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Islanders 5, Predators 2

Defenseman Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey scored within a span of 99 seconds in the third period as the New York Islanders pulled away from the Nashville Predators for a victory in a battle of NHL division leaders.

The goals by Leddy and Bailey each capped coast-to-coast rushes and ensured victory for the Islanders who led 3-0 in the first period.

With their sixth win in seven games, the Islanders (39-19-1) remained at least four points ahead of the Rangers atop the Metropolitan Division.

The Islanders also tied the Predators for the NHL lead in wins.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Predators (39-13-6), who still lead the NHL in points.

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Canucks 5, Rangers 4 (Shootout)

Alexandre Burrow and Radim Vrbata scored in a shootout to give the Vancouver Canucks a victory over the New York Rangers.

Canucks center Henrik Sedin sent the contest to overtime thanks to his second goal of the game with two minutes remaining in regulation.

Shawn Matthias and Bo Horvat also scored for Vancouver (33-21-3). Miller made 30 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopped shots by right winger Mats Zuccarello and center Derek Stepan in the shootout for the win.

Stepan, Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Carl Hagelin scored for the Rangers (34-16-6), who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

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Capitals 5, Jets 1

Nicklas Backstrom scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Capitals to a win over the Winnipeg Jets.

With his three-point night, Backstrom moved into a first-place tie with Chicago Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane for the NHL's points lead with 63.

John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin and Troy Brouwer also scored while goaltender Braden Holtby turned aside 19 shots to earn his career-best 28th victory of the season for the Capitals (32-17-10).

The Jets fell to 30-20-10.

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Blue Jackets 2, Penguins 1

Brandon Dubinsky scored a short-handed, third-period goal to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dubinsky's goal not only came against a struggling Pittsburgh power play, but it also came after he fought Penguins star center Sidney Crosby.

Crosby got involved in his seventh NHL fight, including one in the playoffs, when he squared off with Dubinsky at 14:10 of the second period. Each landed a couple of punches, and it got the crowd jumping.

Scott Hartnell also scored for Columbus (26-27-3) while Evgeni Malkin netted for Pittsburgh (32-17-9) who suffered a third straight loss.

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Sharks 5, Stars 2

San Jose center Andrew Desjardins had two goals and fellow pivots Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski two assists each while goaltender Antti Niemi stopped 37 of 39 shots as the Sharks defeated the Dallas Stars.

The Stars (27-23-8) got two assists from captain Jamie Benn and a goal and an assist from defenseman Trevor Daley.

The win improved San Jose to 30-22-8.

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Panthers 3, Canadiens 2 (Shootout)

Dave Bolland scored the shootout winner to lift the Florida Panthers to a victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Goaltender Carey Price stopped 19 shots for Montreal (37-16-4) and counterpart Roberto Luongo made 37 saves for the Panthers.

Brendan Gallagher scored twice in regulation for the Canadiens. Left winger Tomas Fleischmann and defenseman Steven Kampfer replied for Florida (25-19-12).

Gallagher's 100th career point started the scoring at 2:31 of the second period.

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Sabres 3, Flyers 2 (Shootout)

Brian Flynn scored the winning goal in a shootout to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Deslauriers and Brian Gionta scored regulation goals, and goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 36 saves for the Sabres (17-37-4).

Ryan White and Jakub Voracek scored for Philadelphia (24-23-11). The Flyers had their nine-game point streak snapped in a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, and they couldn't beat a team with the fewest points in the NHL on Thursday.

Even so, they moved within six points of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.