The NHL-leading San Jose Sharks piled on a record-breaking five goals in the first 21 minutes for a 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
Sharks captain Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists during the barrage, and Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves to keep San Jose unbeaten in regulation time at home this season.
The Sharks tormented Vancouver goalie Cory Schneider, who gave up those five goals on 15 shots before getting yanked. Nabokov then earned his second shutout and league-leading 19th victory with 29 saves in the final two periods.
PHOTO: AP
The scoring burst set a franchise record for the quickest five goals to open a game.
BRUINS 2, DEVILS 0
In Newark, New Jersey, Boston set its longest winning stretch of the season, notching a sixth straight victory by shutting out New Jersey.
Tim Thomas made 25 saves for his third shutout of the season and 10th of his career, making to key stops in the closing four minutes.
Milan Lucic broke a scoreless tie early in the third period.
The Devils, coping with the loss of ace goalie Martin Brodeur until February or March, lost a three-game winning streak.
CAPITALS 5, RANGERS 4 OT
In New York, Washington rallied from a four-goal deficit to sink New York in an overtime thriller.
Alex Ovechkin, who came in with only two career points in six games at Madison Square Garden, showed off his MVP form with two goals and an assist.
New York led 4-0 and carried a three-goal lead into the third period, but couldn’t hold it. The only other time the Rangers did not win at home after leading 4-0 was in 1979.
Ovechkin had never enjoyed a road victory against the Rangers, and the Capitals hadn’t won in New York in nearly five years.
FLAMES 4, DUCKS 3
In Calgary, Alberta, Brett Sutter, Marc Giordano and Mike Cammalleri scored consecutive goals in the third period to lift Calgary over Anaheim.
Anaheim took its first lead of the night, 2-1 at 3:45 of the third period, but Calgary took just 14 seconds to tie it as Sutter — the son of the general manager — scored in his NHL debut. Giordano gave the Flames a 3-2 lead at 11:49 and Cammalleri added a goal with 5:44 left.
RED WINGS 4, BLUES 1
In Detroit, Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and an assist to lead Detroit over St Louis.
Ty Conklin made 33 saves for the defending champion Red Wings.
St Louis has lost seven of its past eight.
WILD 3, HURRICANES 2
In St Paul, Minnesota, Carolina could not take advantage of a two-minute 5-on-3 advantage in the third period, falling short against Minnesota.
Stephane Veilleux capped off Minnesota’s three-goal second period, erasing a 2-0 deficit and notching only the third win this month for the Wild.
AVALANCHE 5, COYOTES 4, OT
In Denver, Brett Clark scored with 3:12 left in overtime to give Colorado victory over Phoenix.
FLYERS 6, SENATORS 4
In Philadelphia, Jeff Carter scored his NHL-leading 26th goal in Philadelphia’s win over Ottawa.
Omitted from the All-Star ballot, Carter continues to shine. He was knocked on his back and slid into the boards in the second period, a prime scoring shot wiped out on a tripping penalty. Carter needed little time to get up and punch in No. 26 to put the Flyers ahead 3-2.
Ottawa scored twice in the third to even the score, then Simon Gagne scored the winner with 5:30 left.
PANTHERS 3, PREDATORS 0
In Sunrise, Florida, Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves for his second consecutive shutout as Florida downed Nashville.
Michael Frolik scored twice for the Panthers who tied a franchise record for December wins with seven.
STARS 8, MAPLE LEAFS 2
In Toronto, rookie James Neal scored his first career hat trick as Dallas punished Toronto.
Dallas had 15 players who scored at least one point.
KINGS 3, BLUE JACKETS 0
In Columbus, Ohio, Raitis Ivanans and Peter Harrold scored their first goals of the season in Los Angeles’ defeat of Columbus.
Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots for his first career shutout, as the Kings ended a four-game losing skid.
Columbus failed in its quest for a sixth straight home win.
LIGHTNING 2, PENGUINS 0
In Pittsburgh, Mike Smith made 15 saves to earn his second shutout of the season as Tampa Bay downed Pittsburgh.
Paul Szczechura had a goal and an assist for the Lightning, who won for only the second time in their past 14 games.
The Lightning have an NHL-low eight wins this season.
The Penguins have won only one of their past seven home games against the Lightning.
THRASHERS 4, ISLANDERS 2
In Uniondale, New York, Atlanta won to keep New York winless in 10 games.
Bryan Little scored his second goal of the game on the power play in third period, giving Atlanta its third straight win against the Islanders.
The Thrashers’ Ilya Kovalchuk notched his 500th NHL point in his 500th game.
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