MONDAY EYE-OPENER

NHL:  Just two points separate the Anaheim Ducks from the NHL’s Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators.

Clayton Stoner’s first goal of the season was the tiebreaking tally in the third period of the Ducks’ 3-1 victory over Dallas. The game was tied 1-1 until Stoner and Ryan Getzlaf tallied about 10 minutes apart to send Anaheim to its fifth victory in six games.

Perry and Getzlaf each finished with a goal and an assist to back John Gibson, who stopped 39 shots in the Ducks’ 40th victory.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

– Vancouver coughed up a 5-2 lead in the third period before Nick Bonino, Radim Vrbata and Chris Higgins delivered shootout goals in the Canucks’ 6-5 win against St. Louis. Yannick Weber had a goal and an assist as the Canucks strengthened their claim on second place in the Pacific Division. The Blues are four points behind the Central-leading Predators.

– Evgeni Malkin scored twice and added an assist in Pittsburgh’s fourth straight win, a 5-3 downing of Columbus. David Perron, Steve Downie and Derrick Pouliot also scored for the Penguins, who went 3-for-6 on the power play and pulled within three points of the Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders.

– Washington is within six points of the Isles after Alex Ovechkin scored his league-high 40th and 41st goals in the Capitals’ 4-0 shutout of Toronto. Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots in his seventh shutout of the season and the Capitals’ first victory in four games.

– Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist as Florida downed Tampa Bay 4-3 to climb within two points of Boston for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. Jonathan Huberdeau had three assists and Al Montoya handled 20 shots to help the Panthers keep the Lightning five points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens.

– Andrew Ladd scored twice and Blake Wheeler added an empty-net goal and an assist as Winnipeg downed Los Angeles 5-2. Drew Stafford also scored and Michael Hutchinson stopped 18 shots as the Jets moved six points ahead of the ninth-place Kings in the Western Conference. The Kings have dropped three straight since an eight-game winning streak.

NHL TRADES

– The New York Rangers have acquired All-Star defenceman Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes. The 28-year-old Yandle had a team-high 41 points for the Coyotes and is a four-time All-Star.

Arizona also sent defenceman Chris Summers and a fourth-round draft pick to the Rangers, who gave up defenceman John Moore, prospect Anthony Duclair, a conditional first-round draft pick in 2016 and a second-rounder this year.

– The Blueshirts also picked up forward James Sheppard from San Jose for a fourth-round draft pick in 2016. The 26-year-old Sheppard has five goals and 16 points in 57 games this season.

In other NHL trades on Sunday:

– The Dallas Stars traded forward Erik Cole and a draft pick to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night for two prospects and a draft pick.

– The Calgary Flames have shipped forward Curtis Glencross to the Washington Capitals for second- and third-round picks this year.

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Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs and Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue are the only two skips to go undefeated through the first five draws at the Brier men’s curling championship in Calgary. Jamie Koe and his Northwest Territories rink is the only winless team at 0-3.  Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock is 2-1 after defeating NWT Sunday evening by a 10-6 score.   Sask faces Team Canada tonight.

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The Colorado Rockies have selected Canadian John Axford’s contract, adding the veteran reliever to their bullpen. Axford agreed to a minor league deal with Colorado last month. The Port Dover, Ontario native will get a $2.6 million, one-year contract with a chance to earn more in performance bonuses.

(CP)