In the National Hockey League, Columbus right wing Nikolai Zherdev tied the score with an acrobatic goal late in regulation time as his Blue Jackets edged the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, in overtime Monday.
With only 23 seconds to go, Zherdev tapped the puck in the net while diving through the air, after Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin knocked him off his skates. In the five-minute overtime, Jaroslav Balastik netted the winning tally to lift the Blue Jackets on their home ice. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Columbus.
Atlanta rookie netminder Michael Garrett made 36 saves and posted his second shutout in a row, leading the host Thrashers to a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Garrett also blanked New Jersey 1-0 on Friday, giving him 65 total saves over the two games; he is Atlanta's first goalie ever to earn consecutive shutouts.
The Minnesota Wild snapped the Edmonton Oilers' five-game win streak, 4-1. Three Minnesota players had a goal and an assist each, and Wild goalie Manny Fernandez stopped 27 shots in Edmonton.
The Calgary Flames continued their domination of Vancouver with a 2-1 win over the host Canucks. Robyn Regehr scored the game winning goal on a power play in the third period. Calgary has beaten Vancouver in all four of their meetings this season.
Other NHL winners Monday were the Sabres, Flyers, Lightning, Senators, Maple Leafs, Stars, Avalanche, and Kings.
The Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the New York Islanders, 6-3, the Philadelphia Flyers won a shootout to edge the Florida Panthers, 3-2, and the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning topped the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-4, in overtime. The Ottawa Senators rolled over the New York Rangers, 6-2, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, the Dallas Stars clobbered the St. Louis Blues, 6-1, and the Colorado Avalanche thumped the Phoenix Coyotes, 7-4. And the Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks, 4-3.
