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NHL: Flyers claim first place with OT win

The New Jersey Devils' Mike Rupp scores past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Ty Conklin, left, and Darryl Sydor in the first period of their NHL game at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday. PHOTO: AP

The Philadelphia Flyers roared into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 home overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Scott Hartnell scored the game-winner, the puck deflecting past Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera with 28.5 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Flyers their ninth win in their last 11.

The play was reviewed and ruled to be legal because it went off Hartnell's skate and adjudged not to have been kicked intentionally into the net.

"I saw the replay and it was a goal," LaBarbera told reporters.

Simon Gagne and Braydon Coburn also scored for Philadelphia, who went a point clear of the Pittsburgh Penguins and two ahead of the New Jersey Devils in a division where just seven points separate the five teams.

"It doesn't matter how pretty they are -- it matters when you win games and we got two points tonight," Hartnell said. "It was huge and just two more points in the standings and we need to keep on with that."

The Kings, who are last in the NHL in the overall standings, have not won in Philadelphia for nearly eight years.

Penguins 4, Devils 2

In Newark, New Jersey, the injury and illness-plagued Pittsburgh Penguins scored three goals in the second period and twice rallied from behind to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in the NHL on Tuesday.

Erik Christensen had a goal and assist during the second period for the Penguins, who defeated the Devils for the fifth straight time in New Jersey and did it without absent forwards Sidney Crosby, Colby Armstrong and Tyler Kennedy.

The win moved Pittsburgh above New Jersey to second in the Atlantic Division standings.

Sharks 3, Oilers 0

In Edmonton, Alberta, San Jose won its third straight game by shutting out Edmonton.

Evgeni Nabokov earned his sixth shutout with only 13 saves for the Sharks, who had lost four straight before putting together their current run and remain level on points with Dallas atop the Pacific Division.

Stars 4, Canucks 3

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Mike Modano and Stephane Robidas scored three minutes apart early in the second period to set up Dallas' win over Vancouver.

Marty Turco made 29 saves for the Stars, who were coming off successive defeats and hold the second-best record in the Western Conference.

Dallas led 4-1 with 7:30 left in the third period before two late Canucks goals made a game of it with 1:20 left.

Coyotes 4, Blue Jackets 2

In Columbus, Ohio, Phoenix scored three third-period goals to beat Columbus.

Peter Mueller scored twice and the Coyotes snapped a run of 18 straight defeats when trailing entering the third period.

The Blue Jackets had their franchise-record six-game home winning streak come to an end.

Senators 5, Islanders 2

In Uniondale, New York, faltering Eastern Conference pace-setter Ottawa won for just the third time in eight games by downing New York.

Mike Fisher had a goal and assist for the Senators.

The Islanders are winless in five straight games at home -- their longest such barren streak since 2001.

Bruins 3, Predators 1

In Boston, Glen Metropolit scored a pair of third-period goals to lift Boston over Nashville.

Tim Thomas stopped 37 shots for the Bruins, who posted their fifth win in seven games.

Sabres 4, Lightning 2

In Tampa, Florida, the struggling Buffalo Sabres won for just the fourth time in 16 games by beating Tampa Bay.

Jason Pominville scored a goal and had two assists for the Sabres, who have won nine of their past 10 against the Lightning, including six straight in Tampa.

Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Rod Brind'Amour and Sergei Samsonov scored in the second period to fire Carolina past New York.

Trevor Letowski added an insurance goal for the Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes, who have won three of four.

Blues 3, Maple Leafs 2

In Toronto, St. Louis ended a seven-game winless streak by edging Toronto.

Keith Tkachuk scored on his team's first two shots and the Blues improved to 5-1-1 against Eastern Conference teams this season.

Canadiens 4, Capitals 0

In Montreal, Cristobal Huet stopped 35 shots in his second shutout of the season as Montreal downed Washington.

Mark Streit had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who have won three straight. Huet's shutout was the 15th of his career.

Washington has lost two of three following a season-high four-game winning streak.
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