Joe Nieuwendyk's 500th goal left his coach and teammates in awe.
``That was the nicest 500th I ever saw,'' New Jersey coach Pat Burns said. ``Usually, they are garbage goals.''
The milestone goal gave the Devils an early lead, and visiting New Jersey went on to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Friday night.
Nieuwendyk, who passed up a chance at an empty-net goal last Friday against Florida, became the 32nd player to reach 500 goals when he scored 11:18 into the first period.
A bad clearing pass by Glen Wesley found the stick of Nieuwendyk, who outraced Sean Hill down the left wing, faked out Kevin Weekes and easily slid the puck in.
The entire Devils team left the bench to congratulate the 36-year-old veteran, who saved a few game mementos for his infant son, Jackson.
``I got the puck, and I'll keep the stick and the game sheet for my little guy,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``That's something he'll be able to keep forever.''
The goal was just the sixth for Nieuwendyk, who spent most of his first 16 NHL seasons with Calgary and Dallas before being traded to New Jersey late last season.
Jamie Langenbrunner also scored and Martin Brodeur stopped 34 shots for his NHL-leading 24th victory as New Jersey stretched its season-high unbeaten streak to six, at 5-0-1.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes matched a franchise record with their sixth straight home loss.
Brodeur is just six wins shy of his eighth straight 30-victory season.
``We hung on in the third period, but that's why the goaltender gets paid so much,'' Burns said. ``And that's why he's the best in the league.''
Jeff Heerema ruined Brodeur's shutout bid with 10:57 left, and became the 11th player in club history to score in his first NHL game.
Carolina knocked New Jersey out of the playoffs last season and had beaten the Devils 3-1 and 2-1 this season. But the Hurricanes have fallen on hard times lately, having lost 14 of their last 20 and earning just 11 points since Dec. 3.
``We're not a happy hockey team in here and we're desperate,'' Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican said.
Maple Leafs 4, Capitals 1
At Washington, Darcy Tucker scored two goals as Toronto ended the Capitals' 14-game point streak.
Brian McCabe and Mats Sundin also scored for the Maple Leafs, and backup goalie Trevor Kidd made 24 saves.
Dainius Zubrus scored for the Capitals, who lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 14. Washington went 8-0-3-3 during the stretch that tied a team record and lifted the Capitals from fourth to first place in the Southeast Division.
Thrashers 3, Bruins 1
At Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period, and Bob Hartley remained unbeaten as the Thrashers' coach.
Frantisek Kaberle and Slava Kozlov also scored for the Thrashers, who have won three in a row, the last two since Hartley was hired. That ties the franchise record for consecutive victories.
Penguins 3, Lightning 2
At Tampa, Florida, rookie Sebastien Caron made 29 saves as Pittsburgh won its third straight.
Caron has won all three of his starts and allowed just three goals in 218 minutes in four career appearances. Wayne Primeau, Alexei Kovalev and Milan Kraft scored for Pittsburgh.
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