Blackhawks 5, Blue Jackets 0
The Chicago Blackhawks don't underestimate an opponent or undervalue a victory.
Jocelyn Thibault made 29 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the Blackhawks extended their mastery over the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-0 victory Sunday night.
The Blue Jackets once again proved to be a perfect tonic for the Blackhawks, who have a league-low seven points at home.
The Blackhawks beat Columbus for the third time Sunday. The Blue Jackets have lost eight straight, the longest losing streak in the league this season.
"The shutout was a nice personal achievement, but the most important thing was the win," Thibault said. "We needed to beat this team to move up in the standings.
"I thought we played a great game tonight and it was a good step in the right direction."
Thibault was not severely tested Sunday night, despite Columbus' 29-23 edge in shots.
Chicago is 5-4-2 in its last 11, and 4-4-2 in games Thibault has played during that span.
"We played better in some (home) games we lost, but don't underestimate this game," Blackhawks coach Alpo Suhonen said. "It's a very important win."
Rookie Chris Herperger scored twice for the Blackhawks. Steve Sullivan, Michael Nylander and Alex Zhamnov also scored for Chicago, which scored more than three goals at the United Center for the second time this season.
The Blue Jackets have been outscored 32-9 during their losing streak and have not won since their 5-1 victory at Nashville on Nov. 16.
"We actually played a pretty good first period," Columbus coach Dave King said. "We just came out, again, trailing.
SHARKS 3, OILERS 3: Bryan Marchment's goal with 3:39 left in the third period capped a three-goal comeback as San Jose rallied to tie host Edmonton.
San Jose extended its unbeaten streak to three games.
Tom Poti and Chad Kilger scored in the first period, and Anson Carter scored in the second as Edmonton built a three-goal lead.
Patrick Marleau and Owen Nolan also scored for the Sharks.
MIGHTY DUCKS 4, KINGS 0: Mike LeClerc and Oleg Tverdovsky scored power-play goals in the final two minutes of the second period, and Guy Hebert posted his 27th career shutout as the host Mighty Ducks snapped a three-game losing streak.
Andy McDonald and Paul Kariya also scored for the Mighty Ducks, and Teemu Selanne and Tverdovsky each had two assists.
Hebert, who missed four games because of a sore left shoulder, made 29 saves and earned his first shutout of the season. He became the first goalie to blank the high-scoring Kings this season.
AVALANCHE 6, RANGERS 3:Joe Sakic scored a power-play goal with 4:32 remaining and had two assists as Colorado ran its winning streak against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden to three games.
DEVILS 1, ISLANDERS 1:Sergei Brylin's goal with 7:26 left lifted New Jersey into a tie with host New York.
SENATORS 2, HURRICANES 0: In Raleigh, N.C., Alexei Yashin and Rob Zamuner scored seven minutes apart in the second period as Ottawa won its third straight game.