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Penguins sweep Flyers for first time

Detroit Red Wings' Kyle Calder gets the stick of Colorado Avalanche's Ken Klee trapped between his face and helmet during a scrum near the net in the third period of their NHL hockey game on Sunday in Detroit. PHOTO: AP

Erik Christensen twice scored tying goals in regulation, then teamed with Sidney Crosby to win it in the shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins swept a season series from Philadelphia for the first time by winning 4-3 on Sunday.

Pittsburgh won all eight NHL games against a once-dominating opponent that has won an average of nearly two of every three games played in the last 40 years between the Pennsylvania rivals.

They nearly didn't this time, falling behind 2-0 in the first period in which Mike York and Braydon Coburn scored. But Gary Roberts scored once and set up the Penguins' other two goals in regulation.

Christensen and Crosby scored against goalie Martin Biron in the shootout, while Flyers shooters Martin Ruzicka and Scottie Upshall failed. The Penguins are 7-5 in shootouts and the Flyers are 1-6.

Avalanche 4, Red Wings 3, OT

At Detroit, Brad Richardson's goal 2:41 into overtime lifted Colorado past Detroit.

Milan Hejduk had a goal and an assist, and Tyler Arnason and Brett McLean also scored for Colorado. Paul Stastny had two assists, and Peter Budaj made 31 saves.

Kris Draper had two goals, and Valtteri Filppula also scored for Detroit. Mathieu Schneider added two assists.

Thrashers 3, Hurricanes 1

At Atlanta, Marian Hossa scored two goals and Kari Lehtonen made 35 saves for the home team.

Atlanta moved into a tie with Tampa Bay for first place in the Southeast Division. Carolina, which had won the three previous games with the Thrashers in Atlanta this season, is five points behind the division leaders and clinging to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Sharks 4, Stars 0

At Dallas, Evgeni Nabokov stopped 26 shots for his 32nd career shutout, Joe Pavelski scored two goals, and San Jose snapped a season-long four-game losing streak.

Curtis Brown set the tone with a goal in the opening three minutes and Ryane Clowe also scored to help San Jose improve to 80 points, one behind second-place Dallas in the Pacific Division.

Blackhawks 4, Senators 3, SO

At Chicago, Radim Vrbata and Jeff Hamilton scored in the shootout to lead Chicago.

Vrbata scored two goals in regulation, including one that tied it with 1:59 left. Mikael Holmqvist also scored for the Blackhawks, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Chicago's Patrick Lalime, who played five seasons with Ottawa from 1999 to 2004, blocked 30 shots.

Ducks 3, Predators 2, SO

At Anaheim, California, Dustin Penner scored the tying goal early in the third period and Teemu Selanne got the deciding goal in a shootout, leading Anaheim to victory.

In a battle of division leaders fighting it out for the top spot in the Western Conference, Selanne also scored his 39th goal of the season in his reunion with former linemate Paul Kariya. Selanne, who eclipsed Kariya's franchise records for goals and game-winners this season, needs 20 points, 24 assists and three power-play goals to break Kariya's club records in those categories.

Bruins 4, Devils 1

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Joey MacDonald stopped 26 shots in his first career start with Boston and the Bruins inched a little closer to a playoff spot with a victory.

Aaron Ward, Marco Sturm, Brandon Bochenski and P.J. Axelsson scored as the Bruins won for the seventh time in 11 games to pull within four points of Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have played three less games than the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes.
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