National Hockey

CHICAGO — The Blackhawks got a lift Friday night from a pair of first-year players — only one of whom is technically young enough to be considered a rookie.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Mikael Backlund had an empty-net goal and a pair of assists, helping lift the Calgary Flames to their sixth straight victory with a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes learned a tough lesson over the past 1 1/2 weeks: No lead is safe on home ice against the Washington Capitals. Jay Beagle scored with 1.

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Calgary Flames are riding a hot streak up the Pacific Division standings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets are limping into their five-day break after another surprising loss to one of the NHL's worst teams.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is in Canada with his family to tend to a personal matter and will be away from the team indefinitely.

BROSSARD, Que. — The mid-season break was nice but now the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins can get back to their rivalry.

TAMPA, Fla. — The NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning have lost All-Star defenceman Victor Hedman for three to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Durable forward Andrew Cogliano has agreed to a $9.75 million, three-year contract extension through the 2020-21 season with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks announced the deal Friday.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The new owner of the Carolina Hurricanes wants his team to win — soon. Tom Dundon was introduced Friday as the majority owner of the team with the NHL's longest active post-season drought at eight years.