NHL ROUNDUP | Wednesday’s games

Rangers 2, Devils 1, SO

NEWARK, N.J. — Chris Drury scored the tying goal with 4:46 left in regulation, and Nigel Dawes beat Martin Brodeur in the shootout to give New York the victory. New York tied Ottawa in points in the Eastern Conference playoff race but is still in sixth place on the basis of one fewer win. The Rangers improved to 6-0 this season against the conference-leading Devils, holding them to five goals in the process and winning three times after regulation. Dawes had the only goal in the shootout, and Henrik Lundqvist turned aside Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta and Zach Parise in the tiebreaker after making 17 saves through overtime. The only blemish was Dainius Zubrus’ power-play goal in the first period that looked as though it would be enough for New Jersey to finally top the Rangers.

Sabres 7, Lightning 4

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht scored twice during Buffalo’s six-goal third period, capping a comeback victory. Jason Pominville had two goals and two assists and the Sabres scored six times on their final 10 shots to overcome a 4-1 deficit. Derek Roy had a goal and two assists and Drew Stafford set up three goals in helping Buffalo inch within a point of Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth. Vincent Lecavalier scored twice, including his 39th of the season, for the Lightning, the East’s last-place team.

Red Wings 3, Blue Jackets 1

DETROIT — Henrik Zetterberg scored three goals in the third period to lift Detroit and record his third career hat trick. Manny Malhotra scored Columbus’ goal.

Hurricanes 5, Thrashers 3

ATLANTA — Eric Staal scored his 35th goal and Sergei Samsonov added a goal and an assist in the Carolina victory. The Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes have won 10 of 12. Cam Ward stopped 31 of 34 shots, making his 13th straight start for Carolina. Atlanta has won two of its past 15 games. Slava Kozlov had a goal, his 17th, in the final minute and assisted on Bryan Little’s fifth goal in the second. Defenseman Steve McCarthy added his first goal to make it 4-2 Carolina at the 4:56 of the period.

Ducks 2, Stars 1

DALLAS — Todd Bertuzzi’s power-play goal with 27.2 seconds left broke a tie, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 20 shots to send Anaheim over Dallas. With the score tied at 1 and Dallas captain Brenden Morrow in the penalty box for interference, Bertuzzi crashed the net and his point-blank swing at the puck got through the pads of Dallas goaltender Marty Turco for Bertuzzi’s 14th goal of the season. Morrow scored a short-handed goal for the slumping Stars, who lost their third in a row and are 1-6 in their past seven games. Scott Niedermayer added a power-play goal for the Ducks, 15-3-1 in their past 19 games.

Associated Press