Brad Marchand recorded a natural hat trick in the third period to rally the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

Marchand's three consecutive goals erased a 1-0 deficit and lifted the Bruins to a third consecutive victory following Monday's 5-2 loss at Columbus. Jeremy Swayman, who was pulled in the second period of that prior meeting, bounced back with 24 saves and Charlie McAvoy assisted on two of Marchand's goals.

After the Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner scored in the final minute of the second period to break a scoreless tie, Marchand had his shot deflect off Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski and into the net to pull Boston even less than two minutes into the third.

A pair of Columbus penalties soon afterward enabled the Bruins to move ahead, as Marchand converted on both power-play chances just over two minutes apart to give Boston a 3-1 lead 7:46 into the final period.

The Cap takes a bowpic.twitter.com/VWOPQSJzg4

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 4, 2023

Spencer Martin had 25 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost two of three since Monday's win over Boston.

 

Panarin's three goals, one assist lift Rangers over Sharks

The New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin also had a three-goal day to help his team extend its own winning streak with Sunday's 6-5 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Panarin added an assist on K'Andre Miller's eventual game-winning goal in the third period as New York held on for its third consecutive victory. Mika Zibanejad contributed a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who staved off a late comeback attempt after the Sharks scored twice in the final 5 1/2 minutes.

New York's Will Cuylle scored with 3:57 left in the second period to snap a 3-3 tie before Panarin completed his hat trick with less than five minutes elapsed in the third.

Panarin later set up Miller for a shot that beat Sharks' goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to give the Rangers a 6-3 lead with just under seven minutes remaining.

Fabian Zetterlund and Alexander Barabanov scored 1:12 apart to bring San Jose within one, but the Sharks failed to get the equaliser and fell to 1-11-0 on the road. 

BAKERY'S COOKING. pic.twitter.com/kwB4Bgop4C

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 4, 2023

First-period goals from Anthony Duclair and Ryan Carpenter staked San Jose to an early 2-1 lead before Panarin scored his second of the game later in the first period. Zibanejad put the Rangers ahead later in the opening frame before Jacob MacDonald's power-play goal midway through the second period forged a 3-3 tie. 

Blackwood finished with 30 saves and Jonathan Quick made 23 stops for New York.

 

Kopitar sets Kings' assist record in win over Avalanche

Quinton Byfield scored two goals and Anže Kopitar set a franchise record for career assists to help the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Kings scored three unanswered goals in the third period to rebound from Friday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals that stopped a five-game winning streak. Trevor Moore and Drew Doughty helped Los Angeles pull away after Byfield snapped a 1-1 tie with 6:34 remaining.

Kopitar helped set up Byfield's second goal for his 758th assist in a Kings uniform, breaking a tie he had held with Marcel Dionne for the most in team history. 

Cam Talbot made 20 saves for Los Angeles, which outshot the Avalanche by a 23-5 margin during a dominant third period.

#11 becomes #1

With his helper on Quinton Byfield's goal tonight, Anze Kopitar becomes the franchise leader in Assists#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/syH8Y0wnKl

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 4, 2023

Josh Manson scored Colorado's lone goal with 7:32 left in the first period, but Byfield answered midway through the second with his first goal of the night.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 34 of 37 shots for the Avalanche, who had a six-game point streak snapped and fell to 0-1-2 over their last three games.