• Former NHL MVP signs $69m, eight-year extension
• Colin Horgan: Five things we learned in NHL this week
The *Anaheim Ducks* beat the *San Jose Sharks* 5-3 on Monday night, with Emerson Etem scoring his first NHL goal in a 12th consecutive home win. Viktor Fasth made 32 saves for the Ducks, who have the NHL's second-best record.
There was more good news for the Ducks when Corey Perry agreed to an eight-year, $69m contract extension, keeping the former NHL MVP with the club through the 2020-21 NHL season. Perry's deal is the same length as the extension signed by Ryan Getzlaf earlier this month – the longest contracts allowed under the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement. Just 10 days after Anaheim signed Getzlaf to a $66m extension, owner Henry Samueli signed another enormous check for Perry, the goal-scoring beneficiary of Getzlaf's playmaking.
"It's a huge relief," Perry said during the second intermission of Anaheim's 5-3 victory over San Jose. "There were a lot of factors. How the team is playing right now. With Getzy signed, that's a huge part of it. You look around the room, there's a lot of guys in that dressing room that are going to be here for a long time, and we can definitely contend every year."
Ray Emery stopped 17 shots to remain unbeaten this season and help the *Chicago Blackhawks* beat the *Colorado Avalanche* 5-2, in the first meeting since the Avalanche halted the Blackhawks' record points streak. Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw scored 57 seconds apart in the first period, Brent Seabrook contributed another and Jonathan Toews added a late insurance goal for the surging Blackhawks, who have won three straight to move to 3-2-0 after their NHL-record 21-0-3 start to the season was ended in the Mile High City on 8 March.
In other matches, the *Minnesota Wild* took the lead in the Northwest Division with a 3-1 win at the *Vancouver Canucks*, the *Los Angeles Kings* had a 4-0 win over the *Phoenix Coyotes*, the *New York Rangers* beat the *Carolina Hurricanes* 2-1 in a shootout, the *Tampa Bay Lightning* had a 4-2 win over the *Philadelphia Flyers* and the *Dallas Stars* held off the *Calgary Flames* 4-3.
Charlie Coyle scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Niklas Backstrom made 35 saves for Minnesota, who moved two points ahead of Vancouver for the division lead with their eighth win in 11 games. At Los Angeles, Jonathan Quick earned his first shutout of the season with 27 saves and Tyler Toffoli scored his first NHL goal on a power play in only his second game with the Kings. Quick's 25th career shutout gave the Kings their 11th victory in 15 games and their 10th in the last 11 at Staples Center.
In New York, Rangers rookie JT Miller fumbled his way to a goal in the third round of a shootout to help end a three-game losing streak for his club. Rick Nash scored in the opening round of the tiebreaker and Henrik Lundqvist stopped both Carolina tries for the Rangers, who moved into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Carolina. Reported by guardian.co.uk 22 hours ago.
• Colin Horgan: Five things we learned in NHL this week
The *Anaheim Ducks* beat the *San Jose Sharks* 5-3 on Monday night, with Emerson Etem scoring his first NHL goal in a 12th consecutive home win. Viktor Fasth made 32 saves for the Ducks, who have the NHL's second-best record.
There was more good news for the Ducks when Corey Perry agreed to an eight-year, $69m contract extension, keeping the former NHL MVP with the club through the 2020-21 NHL season. Perry's deal is the same length as the extension signed by Ryan Getzlaf earlier this month – the longest contracts allowed under the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement. Just 10 days after Anaheim signed Getzlaf to a $66m extension, owner Henry Samueli signed another enormous check for Perry, the goal-scoring beneficiary of Getzlaf's playmaking.
"It's a huge relief," Perry said during the second intermission of Anaheim's 5-3 victory over San Jose. "There were a lot of factors. How the team is playing right now. With Getzy signed, that's a huge part of it. You look around the room, there's a lot of guys in that dressing room that are going to be here for a long time, and we can definitely contend every year."
Ray Emery stopped 17 shots to remain unbeaten this season and help the *Chicago Blackhawks* beat the *Colorado Avalanche* 5-2, in the first meeting since the Avalanche halted the Blackhawks' record points streak. Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw scored 57 seconds apart in the first period, Brent Seabrook contributed another and Jonathan Toews added a late insurance goal for the surging Blackhawks, who have won three straight to move to 3-2-0 after their NHL-record 21-0-3 start to the season was ended in the Mile High City on 8 March.
In other matches, the *Minnesota Wild* took the lead in the Northwest Division with a 3-1 win at the *Vancouver Canucks*, the *Los Angeles Kings* had a 4-0 win over the *Phoenix Coyotes*, the *New York Rangers* beat the *Carolina Hurricanes* 2-1 in a shootout, the *Tampa Bay Lightning* had a 4-2 win over the *Philadelphia Flyers* and the *Dallas Stars* held off the *Calgary Flames* 4-3.
Charlie Coyle scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Niklas Backstrom made 35 saves for Minnesota, who moved two points ahead of Vancouver for the division lead with their eighth win in 11 games. At Los Angeles, Jonathan Quick earned his first shutout of the season with 27 saves and Tyler Toffoli scored his first NHL goal on a power play in only his second game with the Kings. Quick's 25th career shutout gave the Kings their 11th victory in 15 games and their 10th in the last 11 at Staples Center.
In New York, Rangers rookie JT Miller fumbled his way to a goal in the third round of a shootout to help end a three-game losing streak for his club. Rick Nash scored in the opening round of the tiebreaker and Henrik Lundqvist stopped both Carolina tries for the Rangers, who moved into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Carolina. Reported by guardian.co.uk 22 hours ago.