Erik Cole and Eric Staal each had two goals to help the Carolina Hurricanes tie a franchise record for home victories by beating the Florida Panthers 5-2 Friday.
Craig Adams also scored for the Hurricanes, who improved to an NHL-best 26-5-1 at home. That equaled the previous mark set 19 years ago when the team played in Hartford, but they'll have to wait nearly two weeks to break it. Nine of Carolina's next 10 games are in the road.
Martin Gerber, in his first action since playing for Switzerland in the Olympics, stopped 37 shots to improve to 5-0 this season against the Panthers. He was particularly solid while the Hurricanes staved off a pair of 5-on-3 power plays in the second period.
PHOTO: AP
Bret Hedican and Cory Stillman each finished with two assists.
Chris Gratton and Serge Payer scored for the Panthers, who lost for the second time in three games.
Sabres 6, Maple Leafs 2
At Buffalo, New York, Derek Roy scored three goals and Ryan Miller made 21 saves to lift Buffalo past Toronto.
Roy scored a power-play goal in the first period, notched a 4-on-4 tally in the second, and had another power-play goal with 3.5 seconds left to record his first NHL hat trick.
Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, and Thomas Vanek also scored for the Sabres, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Maxim Afinogenov had three assists for Buffalo, which raised Pat LaFontaine's No. 16 jersey to the rafters in a pregame ceremony.
Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alex Steen scored for the Maple Leafs, who lost their fourth straight. Toronto is 2-9-1 on the road since Jan. 1.
Oilers 3, Sharks 2
At Edmonton, Alberta, Ales Hemsky scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:07 left to help Edmonton edge San Jose and snap a four-game losing streak.
It was the Sharks' first loss in five games.
Raffi Torres and Shawn Horcoff also scored for Edmonton in the third period after a scoreless opening 40 minutes.
Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton scored for San Jose, which lost its fourth straight to Edmonton.
Ty Conklin made 19 saves for the Oilers in his first start since Jan. 14 and earned his first win since Jan. 3. Vesa Toskala, who had won four straight starts, made 27 saves.
Canucks 5, Blackhawks 4, SO
At Chicago, Markus Naslund scored the only shootout goal and lifted Vancouver to a comeback victory over Chicago.
The Canucks, who trailed 3-0 after the first period and 4-2 following 40 minutes, finally got even when Brendan Morrison scored with 6:56 left in regulation.
Todd Bertuzzi, Anson Carter and Henrik Sedin scored power-play goals for injury-depleted Vancouver. Alex Auld made 26 saves in regulation before a perfect shootout performance.
Chicago rookie Rene Bourque scored twice, and Matthew Barnaby and Kyle Calder added goals for Chicago. Bourque has two career two-goal games, both this season.
Mighty Ducks 4, Wild 2
At Anaheim, California, Sandis Ozolinsh scored the go-ahead goal with 7:11 left in the third period to lift Anaheim over Minnesota.
Ozolinsh was playing just his second NHL game after missing three months because of a knee injury and his entrance into the NHL's substance abuse program.
Corey Perry scored a power-play goal for Anaheim, Samuel Pahlsson ended an 18-game scoring drought with a short-handed goal,and Teemu Selanne added an empty-netter with 27 seconds left. Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 36 saves, helping the Ducks avoid a four-game season sweep by Minnesota and preventing Jacques Lemaire from getting his 400th NHL coaching victory.
Todd White and Marian Gaborik scored for the Wild, whose four-game losing streak is their longest of the season.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely