AROUND THE NHL | THURSDAY'S GAMES

Islanders 3, Flames 2
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Rick DiPietro made 28 saves in his return to goal for the New York Islanders to help Brad Shaw win his first game as an NHL head coach. Mark Parrish scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with 7:44 to play, and DiPietro made the lead stand to cap a hectic two days for the slumping Islanders. With Calgary's Jordan Leopold off for hooking Arron Asham on a breakaway, Parrish beat Miikka Kiprusoff with a close-range backhander off Miroslav Satan's pass. Shaw replaced the fired Steve Stirling before the game. The former NHL defenseman will direct the team for the rest of the season. Mike Milbury also is stepping aside as New York's general manager, but not until he and team owner Charles Wang hire a replacement. DiPietro, back in goal after missing five games because of a sprained left knee, allowed only Darren McCarty's goal off a rebound in the first minute, and Jarome Iginla's power-play goal late in the first period.
Sharks 2, Senators 0
OTTAWA -- Evgeni Nabokov got his first shutout of the season and San Jose extended its winning streak to five games with a win over the Senators. Patrick Marleau and Nils Ekman scored for the Sharks. Nabokov made 40 saves for his 27th career shutout, his first since March 31, 2004 when he set a franchise record with his ninth of the season. Marleau beat Dominik Hasek on a breakaway in the second and Ekman finished off a 2-on-1 with Joe Thornton in the third, just moments after Nabokov gloved a rolling puck just in front of the goal line to keep San Jose ahead. Hasek finished with 34 saves for Ottawa.
Kings 6, Bruins 0
BOSTON -- Alexander Frolov scored the second hat trick of his career to help Los Angeles win at the Bruins. Mathieu Garon stopped 30 shots for the Kings to get the sixth shutout of his career and the second this season. Frolov's goals all came in the third period. The first on a wrist shot 44 seconds into the stanza. The next on a penalty shot and the third with 10:55 showing on the clock from a shot in the slot. Garon is 20-10-0 this season and 6-2-0 in his last eight starts. Andrew Raycroft took the loss. He was replaced for the second straight game by Tim Thomas in the third period.
Coyotes 2, Sabres 1, SO
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Geoff Sanderson scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Phoenix a victory over the Sabres. Sanderson deked to his forehand and lifted the puck over Buffalo goalie Martin Biron to snap the Coyotes' four-game losing streak. Jason Pominville shot wide on Buffalo's final attempt. In overtime, Phoenix was able to kill off a rare two-man advantage, with goalie Brian Boucher making point blank stops on Thomas Vanek and Teppo Numminen to preserve the tie. Boucher made 30 saves in his second consecutive start, and third in the last four games. Biron finished with 39 stops for Buffalo.
Panthers 3, Blues 1
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Olli Jokinen and Joe Nieuwendyk scored in the first period, leading Florida past St. Louis. Nathan Horton also scored for the Panthers, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 at home. Rookie Kevin Dallman scored his first NHL goal for the Blues. St. Louis, which has the worst record in the league, has lost four straight and scored a total of two goals in its last three games. Florida goalie Roberto Luongo, starting despite tendinitis in his right ankle, stopped 35 shots. Curtis Sanford made 30 saves for St. Louis.
Red Wings 6, Flyers 3
DETROIT -- Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk each scored twice in Detroit's win over Philadelphia. Steve Yzerman assisted on the final goal, moving past Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for seventh place on the NHL's all-time list with his 1,050th assist. The game was scoreless until midway through the second period and after the third began 1-all, the Red Wings had five goals and the Flyers scored twice. Philadelphia completed the longest road trip in franchise history with its 11th straight game away from home. The Flyers finished the trip with an 8-2-1 record. The Flyers have not won in Detroit since Nov. 4, 1988.
Associated Press
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