Veteran Brodeur returns from injury to save day for Devils

Martin Brodeur returned to the lineup to end the New Jersey Devils’ four-game losing streak, making 20 saves to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 Friday in a Veterans Day matinee in Washington.

Brodeur, who missed six games with a sprained knee for the longest injury-induced absence of his durable NHL career, won his 408th game to move ahead of Glenn Hall and into sole possession of sixth place in NHL victories.

Oilers 3, Blue Jackets 1: At Columbus, Ohio, Fernando Pisani’s third-period goal gave goaltender Jussi Markkanen all the offense he needed in Edmonton’s victory.

Jason Smith had a goal, and Radek Dvorak added an empty-netter as the Oilers won for the first time in three games. Ryan Smyth helped set up all three goals.

Thrashers 5, Lightning 2: At Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk scored a career-high four goals – all in a row – and Atlanta rallied from an early deficit to send defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay to its sixth straight loss.

After Atlanta fell behind 2-0 late in the first period, Kovalchuk cut Tampa Bay’s lead in half with 1:49 remaining.

Red Wings 3, Wild 1: At Detroit, Brendan Shanahan and Jason Williams scored second-period goals to lift Detroit over Minnesota.

Johan Franzen added a goal, and Manny Legace made 16 saves for the Red Wings, who have won three straight. Shanahan and Williams connected to give Detroit a 2-0 lead in the middle period when the Red Wings held a 20-4 shots advantage.

Sabres 5, Maple Leafs 2: At Buffalo, N.Y., Tim Connolly scored two goals, including the winner, and Buffalo snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Toronto.

It was the first two-goal game for Connolly, who missed the entire 2003-04 season with a concussion.

Hurricanes 1, Panthers 0: At Sunrise, Fla., Eric Staal scored his team-leading 12th goal and Martin Gerber stopped 26 shots as Carolina earned its franchise-record ninth straight victory.

Gerber posted his second shutout of the season – both over Florida – and had to be perfect to outduel Roberto Luongo, his Florida counterpart.

Kings 4, Blackhawks 2: At Chicago, Mathieu Garon stopped 32 shots and Los Angeles’ penalty killing was perfect for the third straight game.

Eric Belanger had a goal and assist. Michael Cammalleri, Alexander Frolov and Craig Conroy scored for the Kings.