Maple Leafs 8, Flames 6
Olli Jokinen had three goals and two assists for Calgary, but the Flames wrapped up a seven-game road trip with a wild 8-6 loss to Toronto.
The Maple Leafs raced out to a 3-0 lead with goals 2:25 apart in the first period. Mikhail Grabovski had two for Toronto, while Jeff Finger, Nikolai Kulemin, Jason Blake, Jeff Hamilton, John Mitchell and Jamal Mayers added singles. Dion Phaneuf, Curtis Glencross and Jarome Iginla also scored for the Flames. The real back-breaker was Kulemin’s goal at 1:19 of the third period. That put the Leafs up 6-4 and prompted Flames coach Mike Keenan to send backup Curtis McElhinney in for Miikka Kiprusoff. Calgary has allowed 27 goals against over their last five games.
Elsewhere in the NHL last night…
New Jersey 3, Montreal 1
Martin Brodeur calls it the best possible setting. Brodeur tied Patrick Roy’s record for career wins by an N-H-L goal, recording number 551 in his home town of Montreal, in New Jersey’s 3-1 victory over the Canadiens. Brodeur, who got a long post-game ovation, can break the record if he wins at home Tuesday against Chicago. And best of all, Roy took time away from his job as coach of the junior Quebec Remparts to be at the game to see Brodeur equal his record. Brodeur says he doesn’t want to offend anyone, but Montreal is what hockey’s all about, and to do this there, it’s definitely a perfect day. The four-time Vezina Trophy winner will have a chance to break the record Tuesday when the Devils entertain the Chicago Blackhawks. Patrik Elias, Brian Rolston and Jamie Langenbrunner scored for the Devils.
Ottawa 4, Pittsburgh 3 (SO)
Mike Comrie slid the deciding goal in the shootout past Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Ottawa Senators came from behind to beat Pittsburgh 4-3. Chris Campoli, Nick Foligno and Chris Phillips scored Ottawa, which trailed 3-1 with eight minutes left. It’s the Senators fifth win in six games.
Colorado 3, Edmonton 2 (OT)
John-Michael Liles scored 42 seconds into overtime, and Colorado climbed out of the Western Conference cellar with a 3-2 victory over Edmonton. It’s the Oilers third consecutive overtime loss, and they dropped from seventh in the West to a tie for eighth with Nashville.
Nashville 2, Phoenix 0
Pekka Rinne made 18 saves for his seventh shutout of the season in Nashville’s 2-0 win over Phoenix.
Detroit 5, St. Louis 2
Detroit took charge with three goals in a 46-second span of the second period in a 5-2 win over St. Louis.
Boston 2, N.Y. Islanders 1
Phil Kessel scored his 30th goal of the season early in the first period and set up Marc Savard’s goal 65 seconds later, to give the East-leading Boston Bruins a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders.
Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Rangers 2
The Philadelphia Flyers improved their hold on the Number-Four spot in the Eastern Conference, with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers.
Arron Asham scored twice and Martin Biron made 39 saves for the Flyers.
Washington 5, Carolina 4 (SO)
Alex Ovechkin scored in regulation and again in the shootout as Washington got by Carolina 5-4. Ovechkin is one goal shy of becoming the first Capital with 50 in three different seasons.
Atlanta 4, Buffalo 3 (SO)
Atlanta’s Todd White scored with 3.5 seconds left, before Brett Sterling provided the deciding shootout goal in the Thrashers’ 4-3 comeback win at Buffalo.
Dallas 3, Minnesota 2 (OT)
Dallas edged Minnesota 3-2 on Nicklas Grossman’s goal at 2:23 of overtime. Steve Ott scored twice for the Stars, who hold down seventh place in the West.
San Jose 2, Los Angeles 1 (SO)
Jonathan Cheechoo scored in the seventh round of a shootout to cap San Jose’s 2-1 victory over Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay 4, Florida 3 (SO)
Steve Stamko got the only shootout goal as Tampa Bay upended Florida 4-3. The Panthers owned a 3-1 lead until Martin St. Louis and Jeff Halpern scored in the final 6:18 of regulation.