Pavel Kubina scored 33 seconds into overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers in their clash on Wednesday night. The sides had been locked at three apiece after regulation time, with Nikolai Kulemin, Lee Stempniak and Jason Blake netting for Toronto, while Bryan Little, Jim Slater and Colby Armstrong were all on target for Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings ended the Chicago Blackhawks' franchise-record nine-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory. Ty Conklin made 36 saves, Johan Franzen scored twice and Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Kopecky added a goal apiece. While the Blackhawks streak ended, the Boston Bruins claimed their ninth straight win as they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Marc Savard and defender Dennis Wideman recorded a goal and two assists apiece, Phil Kessel netted his 23rd goal of the season and defenceman Zdeno Chara and Martin St Pierre also struck for the Bruins.
The Bruins have a 12-point lead in the Northeast Division over the Montreal Canadiens, who claimed a 2-1 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nicklas Backstrom recorded a goal and an assist as the Washington Capitals posted a 4-2 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres to open up a 12-point lead in the Southeast Division. Rookie Chris Bourque, and Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon also tallied for the Capitals, who secured their fourth consecutive victory,
Jeff Carter recorded his 27th goal as the Philadelphia Flyers ended a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks to move to within two points of Atlantic Division leaders the New York Rangers. In other games, Zach Parise scored two goals to help the New Jersey Devils to a 4-2 victory over the St Louis Blues, and Brian Lee scored his first career NHL goal as the Ottawa Senators avoided a fourth straight loss with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
* Reuters
