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Gomez sparks Devils

Adam Foote, right, tries to clear San Jose's Joe Thornton as Columbus goaltender Marc Denis dives on a loose puck. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Adam Foote, right, tries to clear San Jose's Joe Thornton as Columbus goaltender Marc Denis dives on a loose puck. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Scott Gomez made Lou Lamoriello’s decision easy.

Gomez scored the only shootout goal to give the New Jersey Devils an important 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at Ottawa.

“Gomez has been scoring lately,” said coach Lamoriello after the Devils won for just the second time in six games and third time in nine to move into a tie for sixth place with Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference.

“We could have gone with anyone, but he’s had a hot hand,” Lamoriello said.

It proved to be a good call. After Senators goaltender Ray Emery, who made 33 saves in regulation, stopped Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta missed.

Gomez then skated straight at Emery, left the puck in place and moved around it.

“That’s his move. He doesn’t move the puck. He just lets it go,” Gionta said.

Maple Leafs 3, Flyers 2: At Philadelphia, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alex Steen scored early in the third period and Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 28 saves in his second start of the season to lead Toronto over Philadelphia.

Mats Sundin added a goal for the Maple Leafs, who are trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Joni Pitkanen and R.J. Umberger scored for the Flyers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and missed a chance to move into a tie for first with the idle New York Rangers in the Atlantic Division.

Wild 3, Oilers 2: At Edmonton, Alberta, Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard each had a goal and assist in the third period as Minnesota rallied to beat Edmonton.

Wes Walz also scored for Minnesota, which won for just the second time in six games but earned a fourth straight win in Edmonton.

Avalanche 4, Mighty Ducks 3: At Denver, Andrew Brunette scored two third-period goals and had an earlier assist to lead Colorado to a victory that snapped Anaheim’s six-game winning streak.

Brunette’s winning goal came at 13:57 of the final period, when he deflected a slap shot from Brett Clark past goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Coyotes 5, Predators 3: At Glendale, Ariz., Curtis Joseph made 28 saves for his 424th career victory as Phoenix beat Nashville.

Joseph, making his first start since March 21, moved past Hall of Famer Tony Esposito into sixth place of the NHL’s career wins list.

Canadiens 2, Islanders 0: At Montreal, Cristobal Huet made 36 saves for his sixth shutout, and rookie Chris Higgins scored his third goal in two games to lead Montreal over New York.

Radek Bonk scored into an empty net for Montreal, which began the day tied with New Jersey for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Blue Jackets 4, Sharks 1: At Columbus, Ohio, Rick Nash scored two goals and Columbus (29-40-3) tied the franchise record for wins by beating San Jose.

Off the ice

Buffalo center Adam Mair was cleared for contact after missing 28 games with a concussion.