Buffalo runs perfect record to 10-0
The Buffalo Sabres are making their historic start look easy.
Maxim Afinogenov pumped in a goal and assist, Ryan Miller stopped 29 shots, and the perfect Sabres beat the New York Islanders 3-0 Thursday night at Uniondale, N.Y., to win their 10th straight game and match the best start the NHL has seen.
Afinogenov set up Ales Kotalik’s first-period goal and scored one in the second. Miller did the rest for the Sabres, who tied the 1993-94 Toronto Maple Leafs as the other NHL team to begin 10-0.
The Sabres can break the record at home against Atlanta on Saturday. Buffalo, which fell one win shy of the Stanley Cup finals last season, has a team-record 15 consecutive regular-season victories.
Canadiens 3, Bruins 2: At Boston, Andrei Markov scored the tiebreaking goal with 1.2 seconds left, giving Montreal a victory over Boston.
Devils 2, Panthers 0: At East Rutherford, N.J., Martin Brodeur tied Hall of Famer Jacques Plante for fourth place on the NHL shutout list with 82 and New Jersey snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Florida.
Flyers 3, Thrashers 2 (SO): At Philadelphia, Peter Forsberg and Simon Gagne each scored in a shootout, lifting Philadelphia to a win over Atlanta, making Flyers coach John Stevens a winner in his NHL coaching debut.
Lightning 5, Hurricanes 1: At Tampa, Fla., Martin St. Louis broke his team record for the three fastest goals, completing a hat trick in a 6:17 span of the second period in Tampa Bay’s victory over Carolina.
Senators 7, Maple Leafs 2: At Ottawa, Dany Heatley extended his goals streak to four games with his fourth career hat trick and Jason Spezza and Joe Corvo each had five points, leading Ottawa to a win over Toronto.
Predators 4, Sharks 3: At Nashville, Tenn., Scott Hartnell scored two goals to help Nashville beat San Jose.
Coyotes 6, Oilers 2: At Glendale, Ariz., Georges Laraque scored his first goal of the season for Phoenix, which snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Edmonton.
Around the league
The Phoenix Coyotes recalled goaltender David LeNeveu from San Antonio, one day after waiving backup goalie Mike Morrison.