Ovechkin scores 46th goal in win

NHL scoring leader Alex Ovechkin got his league-best 46th goal, Matt Bradley and Viktor Kozlov scored 64 seconds apart early in the third period and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Brooks Laich also scored for the Capitals, who moved into first place in the mediocre Southeast Division.

Mike Knuble, Sami Kapanen and Randy Jones scored for Philly. Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig stopped 31 shots.

Avalanche 3, Sharks 1: At San Jose, Calif., Ben Guite and T.J. Hensick scored on graceful deflections, and Jose Theodore returned from injury to make 30 saves in Colorado’s stellar defensive effort in a victory over the Sharks.

Sabres 3, Devils 2 (SO): At Buffalo, N.Y., Drew Stafford and Henrik Tallinder scored consecutive goals in the shootout to lift Buffalo to its fifth win in six games.

Stafford beat New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur with a wrist shot in the first round of the shootout, and Tallinder followed with a nifty deke. Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller denied Brian Gionta’s wrist shot in the second round to give the Sabres their second straight win.

Oilers 4, Blackhawks 1: At Edmonton, Alberta, Joni Pitkanen had a goal and an assist, and Edmonton defeated Chicago for their second straight win.

Jarret Stoll, Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau also scored for the Oilers, who moved within five points of eighth place in the Western Conference.

Patrick Sharp had the only goal for the Blackhawks, who have lost five in a row.