Bonino jumps ship to join Predators in free agency

Nick Bonino is joining the team that he helped defeat in the Stanley Cup Final.

The forward signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Connecticut native recorded 18 goals, 19 assists in 80 games last season with Pittsburgh and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 21 playoff contests to help the Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Bonino missed the last four games of the Stanley Cup final because of a broken tibia, which was sustained after he was on the receiving end of a slapshot from Predators defenseman P.K. Subban. Bonino is expected to be ready for the start of the 2017-18 season.

Bonino has collected 75 goals and 112 assists in 407 career games with the Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks since being selected by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL draft.

Karlsson, Crosby, Bonino named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK -- UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, and Nick Bonino as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL playoff games taking place on April 27, 2017.

FIRST STAR - ERIK KARLSSON, D, OTTAWA SENATORS

Karlsson leads all skaters with 30:11 TOI/GP and all defensemen with 1-6—7 in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

SECOND STAR - SIDNEY CROSBY, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby registered his 51st career multi-point playoff game to pass Jaromir Jagr (50) for most among active NHL players.

THIRD STAR - NICK BONINO, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Bonino scored the go-ahead goal at 12:36 of the third period to guide the Penguins to a 1-0 series lead. Bonino tallied his sixth career game-winning goal in the playoffs and second vs. Washington (Game 6 of 2016 SR).

News & Notes: Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bonino lead Penguins past Jets

BONINO, MALKIN LIFT PENGUINS TO VICTORY

Nick Bonino (3-0-3) and Evgeni Malkin (2-1-3) each had three points to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Winnipeg Jets 7-4. The Penguins (41-16-8, 90 points) moved back into a tie in terms of points with the idle Columbus Blue Jackets (42-17-6, 90 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Bonino had his second NHL hat trick and first since Feb. 2, 2013 when he had three goals and an assist against the Los Angeles Kings while playing for the Anaheim Ducks. It also marked Bonino's fourth NHL multigoal game, and first since Nov. 4, 2014 at the Colorado Avalanche while playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

* Malkin (31-39-70), who had his sixth three-point game of the season, reached the 30-goal milestone for the fifth time in his 11 NHL seasons and the first time since scoring an NHL career-high 50 goals in 2011-12.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Ottawa 5, DALLAS 2
Pittsburgh 7, WINNIPEG 4
BOSTON 6, Detroit 1

SENATORS, BRUINS KEEP PACE IN ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE

The Ottawa Senators (37-22-6, 80 points) and Boston Bruins (35-26-6, 76 points), are second and third place, respectively, each won to keep pace in the Atlantic Division race:

* Craig Anderson made 35 saves for his 146th victory in a Senators uniform (282 GP) to tie Patrick Lalime (283 GP) for the most wins by a goaltender in Senators history. Anderson improved to 8-2-0 with a 1.80 goal-against average, .944 save percentage and one shutout in his past 10 games, dating to Feb. 11.

* Brad Marchand (2-0-2) and David Krejci (2-1-3) each scored twice to lift the Bruins to a 9-3-0 record under coach Bruce Cassidy. Marchand, who reached the 70-point milestone for the first time in his career (32-38-70), leads the NHL with 22 goals and 39 points since Jan. 1 (28 GP).

DID YOU KNOW?

Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby (34-36-70) and Evgeni Malkin (31-39-70) as well as Bruins forward Brad Marchand (32-38-70), moved into a share of second place in the Art Ross Trophy race, behind the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (22-52-74). The Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (29-41-70) also has 70 points in 2016-17.

LOOSE PUCKS
Matt Murray made 31 saves for his 25th victory of 2016-17 to set a single-season Penguins record for wins by a rookie goaltender, surpassing the 24 wins by Gary Inness in 1974-75. … Dallas Stars forward Jason Spezza (1-1-2) extended his point streak to five games (4-3-7). … Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel set NHL career highs with three assists/points. … Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson (36 GP) scored his first NHL goal, while Stars forward Remi Elie had an assist for his first NHL point (3 GP).

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY'S ACTION

All Times Eastern

NY Rangers @ Carolina, 7 p.m., FS-CR, MSG, NHL.TV
Philadelphia @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., TVA Sports, NHLN, SNO, CSN-PH, NHL.TV
Minnesota @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV
Anaheim @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., CSN-CH, KCOP-13, NHL.TV
New Jersey @ Colorado, 9 p.m., ALT, MSG+, NHL.TV
Montreal @ Calgary, 9 p.m., SNW, SNE, RDS, NHL.TV
Ottawa @ Arizona, 9 p.m., FS-A, RDS2, TSN5, NHL.TV
NY Islanders @ Vancouver, 10 p.m., SNP, MSG, NHL.TV
Nashville @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SN360 SNO, FS-W, FS-TN, NHL.TV
Washington @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., CSN-CA, CSN-DC, NHL.TV

WINNING STREAKS ON THE LINE

The three hottest teams in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks (42-18-5, 89 points), Montreal Canadiens (38-21-8, 84 points) and Calgary Flames (36-26-4, 76 points), all look to extend winning streaks Thursday:

* Two of those streaks go head-to-head when the Canadiens put their six-game run on the line against the Flames, who have won seven straight. The Canadiens hold a four-point lead on the Senators (37-22-6, 80 points) atop the Atlantic Division. The Flames are two points behind the Ducks (34-22-10, 78 points) for third place in the Pacific Division.

* The Blackhawks, also winners of seven straight, face the Ducks at United Center. The Blackhawks are one point behind the Minnesota Wild (42-16-9, 90 points) -- who play at the Tampa Bay Lightning (30-26-9, 69 points) -- for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference.

- NHL Public Relations

Bonino, Claesson, Marchand named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog 'The Neutral Zone' has named Nick Bonino, Fredrik Claesson and Brad Marchand as their 'Theee Stars of the Night' for the National Hockey League games taking place on March 8, 2017.

FIRST STAR - NICK BONINO, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Bonino tallied his second career hat trick to help the Penguins (41-16-8) reach the 90-point plateau.

SECOND STAR - FREDRIK CLAESSON, D, OTTAWA SENATORS

Fredrik Claesson scored his first career NHL goal as the Senators earned their fourth straight victory.

THIRD STAR - BRAD MARCHAND, F, BOSTON BRUINS

With two goals, Marchand hit the 70-point plateau for the first time in his career and moved into a share of second in League scoring.