Carter leads Ducks past Devils

Ryan Carter scored his first two NHL goals in the first period and the Anaheim Ducks completed a three-game, New York-area sweep with a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night in Newark, N.J.

Playing a metropolitan team for the third time in four nights, the Ducks grabbed a 2-0 lead. Jonas Hiller protected it by stopping 34 shots – 15 in the third period – making defenseman Scott Niedermayer’s return to New Jersey a happy one.

The Ducks have won three straight, topping New York’s Islanders and Rangers this week as part of a team-record, nine-game road trip, on the heels of a six-game skid.

Sharks 2, Blue Jackets 1 (OT): At San Jose, Calif., Joe Thornton scored a power-play goal 1:49 into overtime, and Evgeni Nabokov earned his 30th victory of the season with 31 mostly spectacular saves in the Sharks’ victory over Columbus.

Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1: At Washington, Erik Cole and Andrew Ladd scored first-period goals, and Carolina beat Washington 2-1 to retake first place from the Capitals in the Southeast.

Bruins 3, Sabres 2 (SO): At Buffalo, N.Y., Phil Kessel scored the lone shootout goal in rallying Boston from a two-goal deficit to seal a victory over the Sabres.

Bruins forward Glen Murray returned after missing 19 games with a hip injury.

Around the league

Sidney Crosby returned to practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins almost three weeks after spraining his ankle in a crash into the boards. … Out with a hip flexor injury for Ottawa’s last four – and six of nine – games, Daniel Alfredsson plans to play today against the Montreal Canadiens. … Philadelphia Flyers right wing Joffrey Lupul, sidelined since Jan. 5 with a spinal cord contusion, has been cleared to play against the New York Rangers today.