NHL Last Night: Devils Get a Heavenly Performance

Martin Brodeur recorded his 99th career regular-season shutout, making 24 saves in his first game since elbow surgery in early November and the New Jersey Devils beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Thursday night.

The shutout was Brodeur's third in 11 games this season and it moved him within four of Terry Sawchuk's regular-season career mark of 103. He missed 50 games after having surgery to repair a torn biceps in his left elbow.

Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac scored, but the night belonged to Brodeur as he picked up his 545th career win, moving within six of tying Patrick's Roy's NHL record.

The four-time Vezina Trophy winner as hockey's best goalie was greeted by a standing ovation from fans when he stepped on the ice for the warmups and they cheered every time he touched the puck, even when he simply directed it to the corner.

Panthers 2, Rangers 1
David Booth and Nathan Horton scored on consecutive shots a minute apart in the third for Florida, spoiling New York coach John Tortorella's home debut.

Tortorella, who served a four-game winless interim stint as Rangers coach at the end of the 1999-2000 season, replaced the fired Tom Renney on Monday and lost the debut of his second stint Wednesday night in a shootout in Toronto. New York has dropped 12 of 14 (2-8-4), a skid that cost Renney his job.

Craig Anderson, starting with Tomas Vokoun sidelined by an ear infection, made 40 saves, allowing only Markus Naslund's goal.

Bruins 6, Ducks 0
Tim Thomas stopped 35 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, Michael Ryder had two goals and an assist for Boston in his second game back after facial surgery, and Chuck Kobasew also scored twice.

Matt Hunwick and Byron Bitz added goals to help the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins match last season's total of 42 wins.

Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere allowed three goals on seven shots before he was replaced at the 3:43 mark of the second period.

Sharks 2, Senators 1
Milan Michalek and Patrick Marleau scored power-play goals 1:18 apart in the second period, and Brian Boucher made 23 saves for NHL-leading San Jose.

Michalek scored his 17th goal 11:26 into the second, and Marleau got his 34th goal at 12:44 as San Jose took advantage of consecutive power plays after Ottawa defenseman Brian Lee had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty added to his holding minor.

Mike Fisher had a power-play goal in the first for Ottawa.

Blue Jackets 1, Oilers 0
Rookie star Steve Mason made 19 saves for his eighth shutout for Columbus, and Raffi Torres scored against his former team.

The Blue Jackets broke through 7:45 into the third period. Jared Boll hit Torres with a long pass and the former Oiler came in on the breakaway and slid the puck through Dwayne Roloson's legs.

Hurricanes 2, Sabres 1, SO
Jussi Jokinen scored the winning goal in a shootout, and Cam Ward made 36 saves to help Carolina tie Buffalo in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Carolina's Anton Babchuk tied it in the third period when he one-timed a slap shot from near the right faceoff circle past Patrick Lalime.

Patrick Kaleta scored Buffalo's only goal. Lalime made 31 saves for the Sabres, who have lost two in a row since star goalie Ryan Miller sprained his ankle Saturday night against the New York Rangers.

Capitals 4, Thrashers 3
Alexander Semin scored one of Washington's three power-play goals and assisted on both of the others, including Mike Green's go-ahead goal.

Green's 23rd goal — most among NHL defensemen — snapped a 2-all tie 12:25 into the second period. Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr also scored.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Rich Peverly and Todd White scored for Atlanta.

Predators 4, Coyotes 1
Jason Arnott scored an unassisted goal 54 seconds after Phoenix tied it in the second, and Nashville won its third straight.

Joel Ward had a goal and an assist, and Steve Sullivan and David Legwand also scored. Ed Jovanovski scored for Phoenix.

Maple Leafs 5, Islanders 4, SO
Tim Stapleton scored in the third round of the shootout to lift Toronto to its third straight extra-time victory.

The teams traded goals in the second round, with Jeff Tambellini scoring for the Islanders and Jason Blake answering for the Maple Leafs.

The Islanders tied it with 3:07 left in regulation on Jon Sim's goal.

Nikolai Kulemin, Dominic Moore, Pavel Kubina and Nik Antropov scored for Toronto, and Vesa Toskala stopped 42 shots. The Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers in overtime and a shootout in their last two games.

Dean McAmmond, Sean Bergenheim and Mark Streit also scored for the Islanders.

Blues 3, Stars 1
Chris Mason made 41 saves, and rookie T.J. Oshie scored the go-ahead goal in the third period for St. Louis.

Jay McClement and Patrik Berglund also scored for the Blues, 8-2-4 in their last 14 games. Jere Lehtinen scored for Dallas. The Stars have lost three straight.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us