Joe Thornton was ejected less than six minutes into his first game back in Boston and the San Jose Sharks still dominated the Bruins 6-2 in the NHL on Tuesday.
The Sharks didn't need Boston's former captain because Josh Langfeld scored his first two goals of the season and Scott Hannan, Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo scored on power plays. After Cheechoo's 24th goal of the season made it 5-1, Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft was replaced by Tim Thomas with 3:41 left in the second period.
Thornton got a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct from referee Chris Rooney for hitting Bruins defenseman Hal Gill from behind at 5:13 of the period. Gill and Thornton were teammates as Bruins rookies in 1997-1998.
Blackhawks 4, Capitals 3, OT
At Washington, Chicago ended its 10-game losing streak, blowing a three-goal lead before Kyle Calder scored with 2:59 left in overtime for a win over the Capitals.
Seeking their first win since Dec. 16, the Blackhawks built a 3-0 lead in the opening 23 minutes. Although the Capitals came back to force overtime, Chicago ended a skid that came dangerously close to the club record of 12, set at the end of the 1950-51 season.
Calder scored the game-winner after arriving at the net at the same time as Washington defenseman Shaone Morrisonn and a shot by Chicago's Tyler Arnason. Calder managed to get the puck past goaltender Olie Kolzig, and the goal stood after a replay review.
Rangers 4, Flames 2
At New York, Petr Sykora had a goal and assist in his Rangers debut, and Jason Ward snapped a third-period tie to lift New York over Calgary.
Ward gave the Rangers their first lead at 5:37 when he took a pass from Ville Nieminen and scored into an open net as goalie Miikka Kiprusoff tried to get back in position. Dominic Moore added an empty-net goal with 37.5 seconds remaining.
New York rallied in the hard-hitting game for its second straight victory after three straight overtime losses.
Rookie defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Rhett Warrener scored 38 seconds apart in the first period to give Calgary a 2-0 lead in the only meeting between the teams.
Hurricanes 3, Red Wings 2
At Raleigh, North Carolina, Erik Cole had a goal and an assist in a fast-paced first period and Carolina held on to beat Detroit in the only matchup of the season between two of the top teams in the NHL.
Carolina increased its advantage in the Southeast Division to 14 points over Atlanta by handing the Western Conference-leading Red Wings their second loss in a row.
Martin Gerber stopped 36 shots for the Hurricanes, who survived a late penalty on Frantisek Kaberle to win their fifth straight.
Cory Stillman's 11-game point streak ended as Detroit held him scoreless for the first time since Dec. 13.
Oilers 3, Penguins 1
At Pittsburgh, Shawn Horcoff scored all three Edmonton goals, including the seventh short-handed goal allowed by Pittsburgh this season, and the Oilers beat the still-slumping Penguins.
Ryan Malone got his stick in a Josef Melichar shot from the left point in the third period to prevent the Penguins' first shutout loss in their 39-year history to Edmonton, but Pittsburgh still lost its third in a row and 16th in 20 games.
Ryan Smyth set up the first two Horcoff goals as the Oilers ended an eight-game losing streak in Pittsburgh that dated to Feb. 18, 1993, not long before the Penguins began an NHL record 17-game winning streak.
Predators 2, Islanders 1
At Nashville, Tennessee, Steve Sullivan scored twice to lead Nashville over the New York Islanders.
Sullivan broke a 1-1 tie on his second goal of the game with 3:17 left in the third period. Scott Walker passed the puck to him behind the net and Sullivan skated around the left side of the goal and backhanded the shot past Islanders goaltender Wade Dubielewicz.
Sullivan gave Nashville a 1-0 lead in the first period.
New York tied the game in the second period on Shawn Bates goal.
Senators 7, Coyotes 2
At Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson had two goals and two assists in his return from a rib injury and Bryan Smolinski added three assists to lead the Senators past Phoenix.
Dominik Hasek made 22 saves and Dany Heatley, playing with Alfredsson and Smolinski, also scored as Ottawa's top line accounted for eight points.
Mike Fisher, Zdeno Chara, Chris Neil and Patrick Eaves also scored for Ottawa, which had lost two in a row in regulation for the first time this season to close out a 1-3 road trip.
Zbynek Michalek and Jamie Lundmark scored for Phoenix, which tied a season-high with its fourth straight loss. The Coyotes are 4-0-9 since their 2-1 win in Boston on Dec. 11.
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