Sundays National Hockey League Capsules December 22nd, 2008
CAROLINA 3, MONTREAL 2 (OT)
MONTREAL Tuomo Ruutu scored 1:43 into overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes recorded a 3-2 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens.
Eric Staal recorded a goal and two assists and former Canadien Sergei Samsonov scored and set up a tally for Carolina, which improved to 3-1-0 in its last four games.
Cam Ward turned aside 26 shots for the Hurricanes.
Rookie Matt DAgostini and Robert Lang scored and Alex Tanguay notched two assists for Montreal, which saw its modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
After missing his teams last six games with the flu and a lower body injury, Carey Price finished with 24 saves for the Canadiens.
NEW JERSEY 3, PHILADELPHIA 2 (SO)
NEWARK, New Jersey Travis Zajac scored in the fifth round of the shootout and Scott Clemmensen stopped 27 shots as the New Jersey Devils posted a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Patrik Elias and Brian Rolston each scored in regulation for New Jersey, which has won 12 of its last 15 games (12-2-1).
Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul scored for Philadelphia, which was coming off a 7-1 rout of Washington on Saturday.
FLORIDA 3, COLORADO 0
SUNRISE, Florida Tomas Vokoun stopped all 23 shots he faced as the Florida Panthers recorded a 3-0 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche.
Brett McLean netted his first goal of the season in the second period and Richard Zednik and defenseman Bryan McCabe also tallied for Florida, which finally won a game in regulation on its home ice against the Avalanche.
Not since the then-Quebec Nordiques lost, 4-2, at Miami Arena in 1995 has Florida found a way to get past that franchise in South Florida.
Vokoun stopped three shots in the first period, eight in the second and 12 in the third to notch his second shutout of the season and 27th career.
Peter Budaj finished with 21 saves for Colorado, which fell to 11-2-0 all-time against the Panthers.
BOSTON 6, ST. LOUIS 3
ST. LOUIS Rookie Blake Wheeler scored two goals to help the Boston Bruins extend their winning streak to five games with a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Defenseman Shane Hnidy and Michael Ryder netted power-play goals, while Marc Savard and Vladimir Sobotka added tallies for the Bruins, who notched their first win in St. Louis since October 17, 1995. They had been 0-3-4 in their last seven contests there.
David Krejci had three assists and Phil Kessel set up two others to increase his points streak to 18 games in support of Manny Fernandez, who made 29 saves.
Brad Winchester scored with the man advantage and Jay McClement and Yan Stastny chipped in one goal apiece for the Blues, who have dropped six of their last seven.