Milestone for Nieuwendyk as Devils win
Reuters, Raleigh, North Carolina
Joe Nieuwendyk scored his 500th career goal and Martin Brodeur made 33 saves to lead the New Jersey Devils past the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 Friday.
The Devils are unbeaten in six games (5-0-1) while the Hurricanes slumped to their fifth loss in succession and were beaten at home for a club record sixth consecutive game.
Nieuwendyk became the 32nd player in NHL history to score 500 goals when he tallied midway through the first period.
The 36-year-old carried the puck into the Carolina zone, skated around defenseman Sean Hill and slipped a backhand shot past Kevin Weekes at 11:18. It was Nieuwendyk's sixth goal of the season and ended a four-game drought.
Jamie Langenbrunner scored the other goal for the Devils, who were out-shot 35-27. Rookie Jeff Heerema, playing in his first NHL game, spoiled Brodeur's shutout nine minutes into the third period.
In Washington, two goals from Darcy Tucker gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-1 win over the Capitals.
Mats Sundin and Bryan McCabe both added a goal and an assist for the Leafs while Trevor Kidd made 24 saves. Travis Green had two assists.
Dainius Zubrus scored the lone goal for Washington, which lost for the first time in regulation in 14 games (8-0-3-3). Jaromir Jagr was held scoreless after picking up 12 points in his previous three games.
In Atlanta, Pasi Nurminen made 26 saves as the Thrashers won their third game in a row, 3-1 over the slumping Boston Bruins.
Atlanta is 2-0 under new coach Bob Hartley while the Bruins have lost three games in succession and are 3-14-1 in their last 18.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Frantisek Kaberle and Slava Kozlov scored for the Thrashers, Brian Rolston replying for Boston. Joe Thornton returned after missing five games with an elbow injury but was ejected in the first period for being third man in a fight.
In Tampa Bay, rookie goalie Sebastien Caron made 29 saves for his third victory in as many starts as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Lightning 3-2.
Wayne Primeau, Alexei Kovalev and Milan Kraft scored the goals for the Penguins, who have won three consecutive games.
In Chicago, Brent Sopel's goal with less than seven minutes left in the third period gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.