The National Hockey League defending champion New Jersey Devils showed some of their playoff form Friday, shutting out the Atlanta Thrashers 5-0.
Rookie goaltender Scott Clemmensen stopped 18 shots for his second shutout on the road. Scott Gomez scored a pair of goals, along with single tallies from Patrik Elias, Paul Martin and Sergei Brylin.
The Devils have struggled of late, winning only once in their last four games. But Friday's victory moves New Jersey to within one point of Ottawa for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Only the top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs.
Edmonton's Peter Nedved scored his 300th career goal in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The home victory helped the Oilers earn at least one point for the 15th straight game. They are in seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Columbus goalie Fred Braithwaite made an impressive 43 saves as the Blue Jackets beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3-1. The victory was the Jackets' third in a row coming off a team-record eight-game losing streak.
The Sabres and the Sharks also posted wins Friday.
The Buffalo Sabres scored twice within the a minute in the second period in a 5-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The San Jose Sharks blanked the Phoenix Coyotes, led by goalie Vesa Toskala who had 30 saves.