CHICAGO: Chicago moved back to the top of the NHL’s Central Division by beating Washington 3-2 in Sunday’s clash of the league’s respective conference leaders.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dennis Rasmussen scored for the Blackhawks, who moved a point above Dallas, which has a game in hand.

In other key clashes, Anaheim beat local rival Los Angeles to cut the gap between the Pacific Division’s top teams to just two points, and Tampa Bay won at Boston to also move within two points of its division lead.

Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford made 28 saves while Andrew Ladd got an assist in his return to Chicago after he was reacquired in a trade with Winnipeg on Thursday.

Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for Washington, which had won five of six. The Capitals remained a comfortable 16 points clear of their nearest rivals in the East.

Anaheim’s Corey Perry got his ninth career hat trick to power the Ducks past Los Angeles 4-2.

The Ducks trailed the Kings by 15 points on Jan. 2, but have gone 19-4-1 since while Los Angeles is 12-10-2 in that span.

David Perron had one of three power-play goals for Anaheim, which has won eight straight.

Alec Martinez and Tanner Pearson scored for the Kings, who had won their previous four.

Tampa Bay stretched its winning run to six games by defeating Boston 4-1, moving within two games of state rival Florida.

Ryan Callahan scored twice, Steven Stamkos converted a penalty and Alex Killorn also scored. Stamkos has scored in all six games of the winning streak.

Kevan Miller scored the Bruins’ only goal.

St. Louis’ David Backes and Kyle Brodziak scored in the second period to lead the Blues to a 5-2 victory over undermanned Carolina.

San Jose’s Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl scored 2:28 apart in the third period, lifting the Sharks over Vancouver 4-1.

Minnesota halted a run of nine successive losses at its Xcel Energy Center by beating Florida 3-1, with Erik Haula scoring the go-ahead goal midway through the third period.

Edmonton snapped a seven-game skid by downing the New York Islanders 3-1, with Leon Draisaitl, Anton Lander and Brandon Davidson all scoring in the third period.