Coach Gretzky leads Coyotes past Rangers

Even with the flu, Wayne Gretzky had to enjoy this return to Madison Square Garden.

Back in the building where he played the final game of his Hall of Fame career eight years earlier, Gretzky stood behind the Phoenix Coyotes bench for the first time in New York and coached his club to a 5-1 rout of the Rangers on Sunday night.

Joel Perrault scored twice and added an assist in just his second game of the season, and Ilya Bryzgalov rode a strong start after a rare day off and made 34 saves.

The Coyotes entered with the fewest goals scored in the Western Conference and took on the Rangers, who had allowed a league-low 70. Neither trend held true.

Daniel Carcillo, Radim Vrbata, Fredrik Sjostrom and Perrault all scored in the second period when the Coyotes scored four goals on 11 shots.

Sharks 2, Ducks 1 (SO): At Anaheim, Calif., Joe Thornton beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere with a shot high to the stick side, helping San Jose spoil the return of Scott Niedermayer to the Ducks.

Thornton was the 12th shooter and just the fifth to score in the shootout. His goal gave the Sharks their first victory over Anaheim this season.

Devils 4, Flyers 2: At Newark, N.J., John Madden scored two goals and Martin Brodeur made 29 saves to lead New Jersey to a win over Philadelphia.

Aaron Asham and Jamie Langenbrunner also scored for the Devils.

Flames 5, Blues 3: At St. Louis, Calgary’s top line of Jarome Iginla, Kristian Huselius and Daymond Langkow combined for 12 points as Calgary beat the Blues.

Iginla had two goals and two assists and Huselius scored a goal and added four assists for the Flames.

Panthers 3, Blackhawks 1: At Chicago, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester recorded a goal and an assist and Tomas Vokoun made 43 saves in Florida’s victory over the Blackhawks.

Rostislav Olesz and Richard Zednik also scored for the Panthers.