Berard preys on the Predators

Bryan Berard got off to a fast start with the Chicago Blackhawks -- at the expense of the Nashville Predators.

Playing first game since signing with Chicago as a free agent, Berard scored a goal and was sharp defensively in the Blackhawks' 2-1 victory in Nashville Friday night.

"It was good to be back playing the game," Berard said. "I felt pretty good. It's a great group of guys to play with."

The defenseman opened the scoring in the second period, firing a wrist shot between goalie's Tomas Vokoun's legs.

"His presence here is huge," Blackhawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault said. "It was his first game since last April. But he was in good shape. He was skating really well."

Berard, the first overall pick in the 1995 draft, has overcome an eye injury that sidelined him for all of the 2000-2001 season. He signed a one-year, US$2.01 million deal with Chicago on Oct. 31, 2 1/2 months after he became a free agent when Boston rejected an arbitrator's award that would have paid him US$2.51 million.

"He has gone through a lot the last couple of years," Blackhawks coach Brian Sutter said. "It doesn't surprise me that he battled like he did."

Thibault 31 saves, allowing only Scott Hartnell's goal with 28 seconds remaining.

Panthers 6, Penguins 3

At Sunrise, Florida, Valeri Bure scored two goals to help Florida snap a five-game home winless streak.

Stephen Weiss, Niklas Hagman, Mike Van Ryn and Olli Jokinen also scored, and Roberto Luongo made 18 saves for the Panthers.

Milan Kraft scored twice for Pittsburgh, and Rico Fata added a goal. The Penguins played without Mario Lemieux, sidelined by a strained muscle.

Maple Leafs 1, Devils 1, tie

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Gary Roberts scored a power-play goal with 4:42 remaining for Toronto.

Jamie Langenbrunner scored for New Jersey, and Corey Schwab, making his first appearance of the season, stopped 27 shots. Ed Belfour made 21 saves for Toronto.

Sabres 2, Canadiens 1

At Buffalo, New York, Mika Noronen made 36 saves, and Daniel Briere and Ales Kotalik scored second-period goals for Buffalo.

Buffalo 5-2-1 in its last eight games, while Montreal has lost six of seven and has been outscored 24-7 during that span. Donald Audette scored for Montreal.

Blue Jackets 4, Thrashers 2

At Columbus, Ohio, David Vyborny had his first three-goal game to help Columbus end a seven-game winless streak.

Geoff Sanderson also scored for Columbus, and Marc Denis made 12 saves to end his five-game losing skid. Ronald Petrovicky and Patrick Stefan scored for Atlanta.