NHL ROUNDUP | Thursday's other games

Rangers 5, Capitals 4
NEW YORK -- Jaromir Jagr snapped a third-period tie with his NHL-leading 45th goal, and New York ended a six-game losing streak by outlasting lowly Washington. Jagr, who also assisted on Petr Sykora's second-period goal, used his backhand to steer around defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, switched the puck to his forehand and slid a shot around Olie Kolzig's pad to make it 5-4 at 7:08 while the teams were skating 4-on-4. That was enough to end the Rangers' longest losing streak of the season and put New York back on top of the Atlantic Division -- two points ahead of Philadelphia. Steve Rucchin, Sykora and Sandis Ozolinsh all had power-play goals for New York. Petr Prucha also scored, and Michael Nylander had three assists. Brian Sutherby and Brian Willsie rallied Washington from a 2-0 deficit. Bryan Muir got the Capitals even at 3 in the second period, and Chris Clark gave them their only lead with 6:24 left in the middle period.
Thrashers 4, Islanders 2
ATLANTA -- Kari Lehtonen continued his strong goaltending with 28 saves, and Atlanta improved its playoff chances. Atlanta won for the eighth time in 10 games and snapped the Islanders' four-game winning streak. Marian Hossa, Andy Sutton, Scott Mellanby and Bobby Holik scored for Atlanta. Shaw Bates and Alexei Yashin had the Islanders' goals.
Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Chris Drury had two goals and an assist, and Mike Grier scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period tie to lead Buffalo to its eighth consecutive win. Grier knocked in his own rebound with 11:46 left after his first shot from close in was stopped by Toronto goalie Mikael Tellqvist. Ryan Miller finished with 27 saves for the Sabres Mats Sundin scored for the Maple Leafs.
Bruins 3, Senators 2, SO
BOSTON -- Patrice Bergeron scored the winning goal in the shootout and Tim Thomas stopped three shots to help Boston snap a six-game losing streak. On Boston's first shot in the shootout, Bergeron glided in the front of the net and snuck the puck past Ottawa goalie Ray Emery. Thomas stuffed Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza to give the Bruins their first win in seven shootouts. Thomas saved 31 shots, including 13 in the second period, to win for the first time in eight tries and improve his record to 9-7-5. Brad Boyes and Bergeron gave Boston a 2-0 lead before Spezza and Antoine Vermette tied it in the third.
Hurricanes 5, Canadiens 1
MONTREAL -- Justin Williams and Ray Whitney each scored twice and Eric Staal got his 40th goal as Carolina moved atop the NHL's overall standings. Martin Gerber stopped 28 shots for Carolina. Canadiens defenseman Mathieu Dandenault scored his second of the season at 4:17 of the third to ruin Gerber's shutout bid and draw Montreal to within 2-1. Williams, who also had two assists, scored his 23rd goal late in the second and restored Carolina's two-goal lead when he scored his 24th -- his second of the game -- at 9:47 of the third. Whitney opened the scoring early in the second on a shot that went in the goal just before the net was dislodged. He added a power-play goal score in the third to make it 4-1 before Staal scored on a 5-on-3. David Aebischer, Gerber's teammate with Switzerland's Olympic team, made 36 saves as he lost his Montreal debut.
Predators 2, Coyotes 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tomas Vokoun stopped 24 shots for his second straight shutout and fourth of the season. Vokoun, who blanked the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 at home Tuesday night, improved to 5-0-2 since the Olympic break and led the Predators to their franchise-record 39th victory of the season. Darcy Hordichuk and Adam Hall scored for Nashville.
Associated Press
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