Sabres 3, Hurricanes 1
In Buffalo, New York, Mika Noronen made 30 saves and Buffalo scored three times in the third period for a win over Carolina.
Ales Kotalik scored on the power play at 3:09 of the third period, breaking an 0-for-17 drought for the Sabres with the man advantage. Taylor Pyatt also scored for Buffalo, unbeaten in its last two games following a seven-game losing streak.
Chris Taylor added an empty-net goal for the Sabres.
Sean Hill scored his first goal for Carolina, which is 2-2 under coach Peter Laviolette, who took over after Paul Maurice was fired on Dec. 15.
Thrashers 3, Lightning 1
In Atlanta, Pasi Nurminen stopped 34 shots, and Randy Robitallie, J.P. Vigier and Shawn McEachern each scored to help Atlanta beat Tampa Bay.
The Thrashers won their third straight game just hours after All-Star Dany Heatley spoke publicly for the first time since the car wreck that killed teammate and friend Dan Snyder. Heatley, who broke his jaw and tore knee ligaments in the crash, started skating again this week and hopes to return this season. He stayed for the game, the first time this season he's seen one in person.
Brad Lukowich spoiled Nurminen's chance at his third shutout of the season, scoring with about seven minutes left. Tampa Bay lost for the sixth time in eight games (1-6-1-0).
Blue Jackets 4, Blackhawks 1
In Chicago, Manny Malhotra and Rick Nash scored 1:26 apart early in the third period as Columbus beat Chicago for its first road win of the season.
David Vyborny scored twice for the Blue Jackets, who ended six-game losing skid and nine-game winless streak.
The Blue Jackets improved to 1-11-1-2 away from home. Columbus also won for the first time in Chicago in eight games since entering the NHL in 2000-2001.
Goalie Fred Brathwaite of Columbus stopped 30 shots.
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