NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Gregory Campbell scored twice in a three-goal first period and the Boston Bruins regained first place in the Northeast Division with a 5-4 victory over the reeling New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.
In winning for the fifth time in six games, the Bruins scored three times against Martin Brodeur in the opening 8:12, took a four-goal lead and then held on. Daniel Paille and Campbell capped the outburst with short-handed goals in a 3:21 span.
Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin also scored and backup goaltender Anton Khudobin made 24 saves as the Bruins (56 points) moved a point ahead of the Montreal Canadiens with nine games to play in the lockout-shortened season.
Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene and Matt D'Agostini scored for New Jersey, which has lost eight straight (0-4-4) in seeing its playoff hopes fade. The slide is its longest since 1985-86.
Rangers 3, Maple Leafs 2, SO
NEW YORK (AP) - Mats Zuccarello scored the lone goal in the shootout, and the York Rangers overcame another two-goal performance by Toronto's Phil Kessel.
The Rangers moved back into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Zuccarello, called out before the game by Rangers coach John Tortorella to score more, connected in the second round of the tiebreaker against James Reimer. Henrik Lundqvist turned aside all three Toronto shooters, and the Rangers (20-16-4) moved into a flat-footed tie with the New York Islanders, who had claimed seventh on Tuesday.
The area rivals will meet Saturday on Long Island.
The Ottawa Senators also are even with the Rangers and Islanders with 44 points at the bottom of the East race. Toronto has 49 points.
Avalanche 4, Ducks 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and the NHL-worst Avalanche prevented Anaheim from clinching a playoff spot.
Two days after ripping his teammates' work ethic and focus, Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves in his first win in nearly two months for Colorado, which snapped a five-game skid.
The Avs responded to their veteran goalie's criticism with their most impressive victory in a month, scoring three goals in the second period of just their third road win all season to snap a 14-game winless streak away from Denver.
Teemu Selanne scored his 674th career goal for the weary Pacific Division leaders, who had won five of seven. Anaheim could have finalized its postseason plans, but Jonas Hiller stopped just 12 of 16 shots behind a porous Ducks defense.
Coyotes 3, Oilers 1
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - David Moss and Boyd Gordon each had a goal and an assist as the Coyotes stayed firmly in the playoff picture.
Antoine Vermette also scored for the Coyotes, 5-1-2 in their last eight games. They sit in ninth place in the Western Conference, one point back of the idle Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff berth.
Nail Yakupov responded for the Oilers, who are sliding out of contention, having lost four in a row. They trail Detroit by four points.
Phoenix and Edmonton each have eight games remaining.
Canucks 4, Flames 1
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Roberto Luongo, in a surprise start, made 40 saves and Maxim Lapierre scored the go-ahead goal.
Andrew Ebbett centered a pass that Lapierre swatted behind Miikka Kiprusoff from the top of the crease, breaking a 1-1 tie with 9:23 left in regulation.
Up until that goal, most of the play in the third period was in Vancouver's end, where Luongo was sharp, turning aside dangerous chance after chance.
Calgary outshot the Canucks 41-29, including 18-9 in the final 20 minutes.
Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin also scored for Vancouver, winner of nine of its last 12. The Canucks, who began a five-game road trip, opened a six-point lead atop the Northwest Division over Minnesota.
Curtis Glencross with his team-leading 15th had the lone goal for Calgary, which has lost six of its last seven.