Wire NHL

Mike Smith stopped 24 shots in his return to the Phoenix lineup and earned his fifth shutout of the season as the Coyotes beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Saturday night.

LOS ANGELES-So, what's a stick in the face between friends and linemates?

Michael Ryder's power-play goal 57 seconds into the second period lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Northeast Division.

Alex Ovechkin recorded his 12th career hat trick and added an assist, and the surging Washington Capitals survived a late rally by the Florida Panthers for a 4-3 victory on Saturday night.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - TJ Galiardi feels as if he's getting the chance to show what type of player he can really be.

Alex Ovechkin registered a hat trick and had an assist as the Washington Capitals downed the Florida Panthers, 4-3, on Saturday.

This being the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, it had to be a one-goal game.

Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan and Rick Nash all scored during a second-period barrage that propelled the New York Rangers to a 4-1 win over the fading Carolina Panthers at PNC Arena.

Henrik Lundqvist made a season-high 48 saves, and the New York Rangers gave the Carolina Hurricanes their club-record-tying seventh straight home loss, 4-1 on Saturday night.

Rookie Leo Komarov and Tyler Bozak scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs extended the reeling New Jersey Devils' losing streak to six games with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.

Tyler Bozak's third-period tally proved to be the difference, as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, on Saturday at Prudential Center.

Matt Martin netted the game-winning goal with 6:26 left to give the New York Islanders a 4-2 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Matt Martin scored the go-ahead goal with less than seven minutes left in the third period and Evgeni Nabokov made 19 saves to lift the playoff-hopeful New York Islanders to a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.

The Philadelphia Flyers' patchwork defense caught up with them on Saturday afternoon.

With the Western Conference standings starting to squeeze more tightly around the slumping Wild, players believe a victory Sunday night over the Columbus Blue Jackets could lower the anxiety temperature a couple of degrees.

Was Steve Mason acquired to be the Philadelphia Flyers' goalie of the future or to be the guy to light a fuse under Ilya Bryzgalov?

Jeff Carter had a goal and an assist, Jonathan Quick made 23 saves, and the Los Angeles Kings kept moving forward in the Western Conference playoff race with a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Mike Richards and Jeff Carter each scored first-period goals to back a 23-save effort from Jonathan Quick in the Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center.

Although the Los Angeles Kings have proved home-ice advantage means absolutely nothing to them in the playoffs, they're still pushing toward a prime position for their Stanley Cup defense.

Winnipeg scored four second-period goals in less than seven minutes Saturday and Ondrej Pavelec made 30 saves and the Jets beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to get back in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Winnipeg scored four second-period goals in less than seven minutes Saturday and Ondrej Pavelec made 30 saves and the Jets beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to get back in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Grant Clitsome, Kyle Wellwood and Evander Kane scored in a 2:06 span during a four-goal second period which lifted Winnipeg over Philadelphia, 4-1, at MTS Centre.

Ray Emery made Bryan Bickell's first-period goal hold up as the winner with a 20-save performance in Chicago's 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Bryan Bickell scored in the first period, and Ray Emery made 20 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 Saturday for their third win in four games.

After gaining three out of a possible four points in a home-and-home series with the Eastern Conference's best team, the New York Rangers will continue a three-game road trip Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Vancouver Canucks will try to extend their lead atop the Northwest Division when they host the lowly Calgary Flames in Saturday's clash at Rogers Arena.

The Phoenix Coyotes will try to boost their playoff chances when they shoot for their first three-game winning streak of the season in Saturday's contest against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.

The Washington Capitals' most recent victory allowed them to forge a tie atop the Southeast Division. The Capitals hope to stay there by continuing their dominance of the Florida Panthers in Saturday's encounter in Sunrise.

The surging Tampa Bay Lightning will shoot for a fourth win in five games when they visit the New York Islanders for Saturday's battle at Nassau Coliseum.

The slumping New Jersey Devils will aim for their first victory in two weeks when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Saturday's clash at the Prudential Center.

The race between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens for the Northeast Division title looks like it may go down to the wire. The two rivals will meet for the final time this regular season as they clash on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.

The Edmonton Oilers knew that their season-high winning streak wasn't going to last forever. The playoff hopefuls will try to rebound on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Los Angeles Kings.

The Philadelphia Flyers are putting together a late run that has rekindled thoughts of getting into the postseason. They'll try to extend their longest winning streak of the season on Saturday afternoon and deal the hosting Winnipeg Jets their first six-game slide in three years.

Three of Nashville's 10 remaining games are against the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks, making the task of the getting into the playoffs all the more difficult for the Predators.

A black Town Car pulled up to the top of the loading dock at the Staples Center late Thursday morning.

The Sharks rallied for two goals in the third period and extended their winning streak to seven games, beating the Calgary Flames, 2-1, on Friday night at HP Pavilion.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Bruce Boudreau tried to tell everyone within earshot Friday morning that beating any team for a third straight time in as many games would be a tough chore.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Sharks rallied for two goals in the third period and salvaged two points against one of the worst road teams in the NHL, beating the Calgary Flames, 2-1, on Friday night at HP Pavilion.

Joe Pavelski scored the winner late in the third period as the San Jose Sharks took a 2-1 decision over the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Coach Todd McLellan lit into the San Jose Sharks after a lackluster second period against a struggling team staggering to the finish of the season.

Joe Pavelski scored on a rebound with 2:06 remaining to lead the San Jose Sharks to their seventh straight victory, 2-1 over the Calgary Flames on Friday night.

Alex Chiasson scored his first NHL goal, Lane MacDermid netted his second in two games since being promoted from the minors, and Eric Nystrom had a short-handed goal for the Dallas Stars in a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

The Dallas Stars showed off all the talent they have been developing in the minors during three games against the Anaheim Ducks.

LOS ANGELES-Jonathan Quick was the first goalie to leave the ice Friday after practice at El Segundo, generally the right of the next game's starter. It was mildly surprising, considering that Jonathan Bernier had shut out Minnesota on Thursday, but to Coach Darryl Sutter-who doesn't disclose his starter-it made perfect sense.

The Detroit Red Wings came in looking for redemption, and they left with relief.

Kari Lehtonen posted 27 saves to help the Dallas Stars take a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Pavel Datsyuk knocked in a rebound at 4:45 of overtime, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Friday night to hold onto seventh place in the Western Conference.

Pavel Datsyuk scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 15.4 seconds left in overtime, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2.

Brian Flynn and Jochen Hecht scored 12 seconds apart late in the third period, lifting the Buffalo Sabres over the Ottawa Senators, 4-2. Luke Adam and Steve Ott also lit the lamp for the Sabres, who sit four points out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Ryan Miller made 35 saves for Buffalo, which has won two in a row since a four-game skid. Marc Methot and Eric Gryba scored for the Senators, who remained tied for fifth place the East with idle Toronto. Robin Lehner stopped 26-of-30 shots in defeat.