Canadiens shut out Devils to take over first in East

MONTREAL — Carey Price made 38 saves for his second shutout, and Bryan Smolinski and Saku Koivu scored first-period goals as the Canadiens beat New Jersey 4-0 Tuesday night and moved ahead of the Devils into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Maxim Lapierre scored in the second period to put Montreal up 3-0, Michael Ryder scored with 2:21 left in the game and Montreal ended New Jersey's three-game winning streak.

The final minute was played throughout a sustained ovation that was punctuated by a loud roar from the sellout crowd of 21,273 at the final siren.

Price turned aside 20 shots in the first period and 13 in the second as the Canadiens built a lead despite being outshot 33-18 in the first two periods.

First Period—1, Montreal, Smolinski 6 (Kostopoulos), 4:51. 2, Montreal, Koivu 15 (S.Kostitsyn, Higgins), 18:28. Penalties—A.Kostitsyn, Mon, double minor (high-sticking), 6:38; Kovalev, Mon (holding), 19:08.

Second Period—3, Montreal, Lapierre 7 (S.Kostitsyn, Streit), 14:20. Penalty—Langenbrunner, NJ (hooking), 3:47.

Third Period—4, Montreal, Ryder 13 (Lapierre, Latendresse), 17:39. Penalty—Zubrus, NJ (holding), :33. Shots on Goal—New Jersey 20-13-5—38. Montreal 14-4-15—33. Power-play opportunities—New Jersey 0 of 3; Montreal 0 of 2. Goalies—New Jersey, Brodeur 38-22-5 (33 shots-29 saves). Montreal, Price 17-11-3 (38-38). A—21,273 (21,273). T—2:11. Referees—Marc Joannette, Wes McCauley. Linesmen—Michel Cormier, Derek Nansen.

ATLANTA — Andrew Brunette scored two goals and the Avalanche got a goal and two assists each from Joe Sakic and rookie David Jones to move into a tie for first in the Northwest Division. Colorado has won 10 of 14 on the road, seven of eight overall. Jones scored his first career goal in the second.

First Period—1, Colorado, Brunette 16 (Jones), 4:47. 2, Colorado, Sakic 10 (Jones), 7:53. 3, Atlanta, Armstrong 11, 9:20. Penalty—Guite, Col (interference), 16:38.

Second Period—4, Colorado, Hejduk 22 (Hannan, Hlinka), :48. 5, Colorado, Jones 1 (Sakic, Theodore), 9:45. 6, Colorado, Brunette 17 (Sakic, Stastny), 17:40 (pp). Penalties—Havelid, Atl (slashing), 11:08; Enstrom, Atl (tripping), 16:26; Hannan, Col (closing hand on puck), 20:00.

Third Period—7, Atlanta, Christensen 11 (Perrin, Armstrong), 3:52. Penalties—Jones, Col (holding), 9:31; Kovalchuk, Atl (tripping), 14:30; Larsen, Atl (interference), 17:06. Shots on Goal—Colorado 12-11-6—29. Atlanta 8-5-11—24. Power-play opportunities—Colorado 1 of 4; Atlanta 0 of 3. Goalies—Colorado, Theodore 23-18-2 (24 shots-22 saves). Atlanta, Hedberg 14-11-3 (23-18), Lehtonen (0:00 third, 6-6). A—14,089 (18,545). T—2:13. Referees—Dean Warren, Dan Marouelli. Linesmen—Pierre Champoux, Andy McElman.

DETROIT — Pavel Datsyuk scored a go-ahead goal late in the second period, and the NHL-leading Red Wings won their fourth straight since enduring their worst slump in nearly two decades. Detroit's Kirk Maltby scored in the first period and Johan Franzen added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

First Period—1, Detroit, Maltby 5 (Drake), 8:34. 2, Chicago, Bourque 9 (Bolland, Barker), 10:43. Penalties—Hjalmarsson, Chi (hooking), 13:42; Hartigan, Det (tripping), 17:25; Samuelsson, Det (slashing), 19:53; Wisniewski, Chi, match penalty, 19:53.

Second Period—3, Detroit, Datsyuk 26 (Hudler), 15:52. Penalty—Drake, Det (hooking), 7:52.

Third Period—4, Detroit, Franzen 17, 19:11 (en). Penalties—Keith, Chi (roughing), 3:56; Kopecky, Det (roughing), 3:56. Missed Penalty Shot—Lang, Chi, 10:00 second. Shots on Goal—Chicago 5-7-8—20. Detroit 13-16-18—47. Power-play opportunities—Chicago 0 of 2; Detroit 0 of 2. Goalies—Chicago, Crawford 1-1-0 (46 shots-44 saves). Detroit, Osgood 24-8-3 (20-19). A—18,632 (20,058). T—2:23. Referees—Tim Peel, Mike Leggo. Linesmen—Brad Kovachik, Dan Schachte.

OTTAWA — Dany Heatley scored three goals and set up another for the Senators. After scoring three goals in 13 games, Heatley has four in his past two, both wins for Ottawa.

First Period—None. Penalties—Commodore, Ott (interference), 2:19; Sturm, Bos (holding), 8:26; Schubert, Ott (hooking), 15:43.

Second Period—1, Ottawa, Heatley 33 (Meszaros, Robitaille), 5:44. 2, Ottawa, Heatley 34 (Meszaros, Spezza), 11:05 (pp). 3, Ottawa, Spezza 28 (Heatley), 17:18 (pp). Penalties—McAmmond, Ott (interference), 7:53; Wideman, Bos (holding), 10:39; Ottawa bench, served by Spezza (too many men), 14:24; Ference, Bos (high-sticking), 16:35.

Third Period—4, Boston, Wideman 11 (Savard, Axelsson), 17:34. 5, Ottawa, Heatley 35 (Vermette, Phillips), 19:24 (en). Penalty—Volchenkov, Ott (interference), 1:25. Shots on Goal—Boston 11-9-9—29. Ottawa 8-12-5—25. Power-play opportunities—Boston 0 of 5; Ottawa 2 of 3. Goalies—Boston, Auld 12-13-3 (24 shots-21 saves). Ottawa, Gerber 26-13-3 (29-28). A—20,143 (19,153). T—2:20. Referees—Mike Hasenfratz, Dan O'Halloran. Linesmen—Thor Nelson, Mark Shewchyk.

TORONTO — Pavel Kubina scored 4:04 into overtime to complete the Maple Leafs' comeback from a three-goale-goal deficit. Mats Sundin, Kubina and Jeremy Williams scored third-period goals for Toronto.

First Period—1, Philadelphia, Upshall 12 (Prospal, Coburn), 13:26. Penalties—Hatcher, Phi (roughing), 1:43; White, Tor (interference), 8:59; Briere, Phi (holding), 9:48; Kubina, Tor (interference), 10:41; Kapanen, Phi (hooking), 10:41; Steen, Tor (holding), 15:46.

Second Period—2, Philadelphia, Coburn 8 (Jones, Umberger), 19:05 (pp). Penalties—Umberger, Phi (boarding), 1:36; Tucker, Tor (goalie interference), 3:12; Upshall, Phi (roughing), 7:23; Jones, Phi (roughing), 11:00; McCabe, Tor (boarding), 11:00; Sundin, Tor (slashing), 17:49.

Third Period—3, Philadelphia, Briere 25 (Prospal, Umberger), 1:12. 4, Toronto, Sundin 32 (Kaberle), 4:48 (pp). 5, Toronto, Kubina 7 (Kaberle, Sundin), 13:16. 6, Toronto, Williams 2, 16:19. Penalties—Upshall, Phi (holding stick), 4:05; Coburn, Phi (hooking), 18:05.

Overtime—7, Toronto, Kubina 8 (Colaiacovo, Tucker), 4:04. Penalties—None. Shots on Goal—Philadelphia 4-8-11-2—25. Toronto 13-17-21-4—55. Power-play opportunities—Philadelphia 1 of 4; Toronto 1 of 6. Goalies—Philadelphia, Biron 25-17-7 (55 shots-51 saves). Toronto, Toskala 28-21-6 (25-22). A—19,507 (18,819). T—2:40. Referees—Stephane Auger, Brad Watson. Linesmen—Tim Nowak, Tony Sericolo.

NASHVILLE — Joe Pavelski and Milan Michalek each scored goals and Dan Ellis made 28 saves as the Sharks won their franchise-record 10th straight game.

First Period—None. Penalties—Nashville bench, served by Radulov (too many men), 14:33; Shelley, SJ (interference), 18:01.

Second Period—1, San Jose, Pavelski 16 (Cheechoo, Campbell), 15:32 (pp). Penalties—Hlavac, Nas (holding), 2:28; Nichol, Nas (slashing), 4:19; Hamhuis, Nas (tripping), 14:41.

Third Period—2, San Jose, Michalek 22, :37. 3, Nashville, Arnott 25 (Weber, Erat), 5:29 (pp). Penalties—Radulov, Nas (tripping), 2:18; McLaren, SJ (roughing), 5:16; McLaren, SJ (hooking), 9:43; Vlasic, SJ, double minor (high-sticking), 17:53. Shots on Goal—San Jose 8-20-14—42. Nashville 12-3-12—27. Power-play opportunities—San Jose 1 of 5; Nashville 1 of 5. Goalies—San Jose, Nabokov 40-20-7 (27 shots-26 saves). Nashville, Ellis 18-8-2 (42-40). A—14,965 (17,113). T—2:32. Referees—Paul Devorski, Brian Pochmara. Linesmen—Mark Pare, David Brisebois.

EDMONTON, Alberta — Andrew Cogliano scored in overtime for an NHL-record third consecutive game, leading the Oilers.

First Period—1, Edmonton, Stortini 3 (Brodziak, Pouliot), 2:58. 2, Edmonton, Stoll 11 (Gagner, Penner), 7:03 (pp). 3, Edmonton, Gagner 8 (Hemsky, Pitkanen), 8:40 (pp). 4, St. Louis, McDonald 14 (Boyes, E.Johnson), 17:16 (pp). Penalties—Kariya, StL (holding stick), 5:51; Brewer, StL (delay of game), 6:05; Stastny, StL (slashing), 8:09; Pouliot, Edm (hooking), 17:07.

Second Period—5, St. Louis, Stempniak 12 (Backes, McDonald), :40. 6, St. Louis, Boyes 37 (Kariya), 11:15. Penalties—Edmonton bench, served by Stortini (too many men), 13:10.

Third Period—None. Penalty—Janssen, StL (roughing), 6:21; Smid, Edm (high-sticking), 11:58.

Overtime—7, Edmonton, Cogliano 16 (Gagner), 4:55. Penalties—None. Shots on Goal—St. Louis 7-14-6-4—31. Edmonton 10-6-4-4—24. Power-play opportunities—St. Louis 1 of 3; Edmonton 2 of 4. Goalies—St. Louis, Legace 24-22-8 (24 shots-20 saves). Edmonton, Garon 26-17-1 (31-28). A—16,839 (16,839). T—2:24. Referees—Michael McGeough, Justin St. Pierre. Linesmen—Mike Cvik, Brad Lazarowich.

Around the league

RED WINGS: Right wing Dan Cleary signed a $14-million, five-year contract to stay with the club for which he has topped 20 goals for two straight seasons.

SABRES: Jaroslav Spacek could miss the rest of the regular season with a chest injury and Dmitri Kalinin will be out for two weeks with a shoulder injury, leaving the team without two veteran defensemen for its final playoff push.

Playoff chase

Division leaders earn top three seeds followed by next five; with wins (the first tiebreaker) and games remaining:

EastPts. W GR

1. Canadiens 87 39 11

2. Devils 86 40 12

3. Hurricanes 79 37 11

4. Penguins 85 39 12

5. Senators 85 39 11

6. Rangers 83 37 12

7. Bruins 80 36 12

8. Flyers 79 35 12

9. Sabres 75 32 12

10. Capitals 72 32 12

11. Panthers 72 32 11

12. Maple Leafs 72 31 11

WestPts. W GR

1. Red Wings 98 46 12

2. Sharks 90 41 12

3. Flames 82 36 13

4. Stars 89 42 10

5. Ducks 85 39 11

6. Avalanche  82 38 11

7. Wild 81 37 12

8. Canucks  80 35 13

9. Predators 78 35 11