Predators 3, Sharks 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tom Fitzgerald scored his 100th NHL goal and Tomas Vokoun made 43 saves for his fourth victory in six days, as the Nashville Predators defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Saturday.

The win was a team-record fourth straight for Nashville, which managed just 20 shots. The Predators extended their team-record unbeaten streak to eight games (5-0-3). Vokoun had been 0-8-1 until this week.

Sergei Krivokrasov scored the fastest goal at the start of a game in Predators history 22 seconds into the first period.

PANTHERS 7, LIGHTNING 5: Pavel Bure equaled a career-high with four goals and Mike Vernon weathered a shaky debut as Florida's goalie, helping the Panthers beat Tampa Bay.

Bure, scoring at least three goals in a game for the third time this season and 14th time in his career, gave the Panthers the lead for good on a breakway just 18 seconds after Chris Gratton beat Vernon to make it 5-5 with just over 11 minutes to go.

Vincent Lecavalier had two goals and two assists for his first four-point game for the Lightning. Stephen Guolla had a goal and two assists.

SABRES 8, MAPLE LEAFS 1: Eric Rasmussen, Maxim Afinogenov and Stu Barnes each scored twice as Buffalo routed Toronto.

Wayne Primeau and Michael Peca added goals, Curtis Brown had four assists for a career high in points, and Martin Biron made 17 saves.

Mats Sundin scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Maple Leafs, who were beaten by the Sabres in last season's conference finals. The teams play again Monday night in Toronto.

DEVILS 2, BRUINS 2: Jason Allison scored his second goal of the game at 6:50 of the third period, lifting Boston to a tie with New Jersey.

Allison missed the last three games with a wrist injury and is also seeking a contract extension.

The Bruins are 0-5-2 in their last seven games and have only two wins in 16 games. The Devils are unbeaten in four.

Anson Carter had two assists for the Bruins.

CAPITALS 1, BLUES 1: Ulf Dahlen's goal 7:27 into the second period lifted Washington into a tie with St. Louis.

The tie gave Washington a two-game unbeaten streak (1-0-1) after an 0-3-1 skid. The Capitals improved to 11-4-1 in New Year's Day games.

Pierre Turgeon's 16th of the season extended his point-scoring streak to 14 games, second only this season to a 15-game streak by Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr.

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HURRICANES 4, THRASHERS 2: Ron Francis, Sami Kapanen and Paul Ranheim each had a goal and an assist as Carolina broke a four-game road losing streak with a win over Atlanta.

The Hurricanes won for the second time since rallying from a two-goal deficit in the first period to beat Atlanta 4-2 on Dec. 18.

Atlanta, which dropped to a league-worst 8-25-4, had only three shots on Carolina goalie Arturs Irbe in the third. Irbe, who made 24 saves, raised his record to 12-12-7.

Scott Fankhouser, making his second career start, fell to 0-2-1 after stopping 25 shots. The Thrashers are 1-10-2 in 13 games.

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