Sharks Moving Toward .500

The San Jose Sharks have spent all season trying to reach .500. The way goalie Mike Vernon and the defense are playing, they may just attain that status before too long.

Vernon stopped 33 shots as the Sharks, who have allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of their last 18 games, defeated the New Jersey Devils, 3-1, Monday at San Jose.

The Sharks, winless in their first eight games, improved to 15-18-11 with the victory. San Jose is unbeaten in seven of its last eight games.

The Sharks have moved into playoff contention with their recent streak and lead the Kings by five points, but Vernon warned there’s still a long way to go before the Sharks can start thinking about a postseason berth.

“We have to continue to play with some consistency and urgency,” he said. “I still think it’s going to come down to the last week of the season.”

Buffalo 4, Florida 0--Dominik Hasek stopped 33 shots for his eighth shutout of the season and 41st of his career to lead the Sabres over the Panthers at Sunrise, Fla.

The last time the Sabres played at Sunrise, Nov. 28, they lost, 6-2, and Hasek was pulled after the first period.

The Panthers played without Pavel Bure, the high-scoring forward they acquired in a seven-player deal with Vancouver on Sunday. Bure was en route to New York from Moscow. It’s uncertain when he will make his debut.

Boston 8, Nashville 1--Peter Ferraro set up both of Steve Heinze’s second-period goals that broke open a close game at Boston and sent the Bruins to their second-highest offensive output this season.

Boston won at Montreal, 9-2, Oct. 28, but this was the most goals the Bruins have scored at home under Coach Pat Burns. “I wish they were all this simple,” he said.

Philadelphia 5, Ottawa 0--John Vanbiesbrouck stopped 36 shots as the Flyers gained their fifth shutout in six games with a rout of the Senators at Kanata, Canada.

The win gave Flyer Coach Roger Neilson his 400th coaching victory.

Washington 4, Montreal 4--The Canadiens twice wasted two-goal leads before settling for a tie with the Capitals at Montreal.

“If we don’t make the playoffs by a point, this is one game we could look at later in the year,” forward Shayne Corson said.

Vancouver 5, Dallas 3--Trent Klatt scored the tie-breaking goal early in the second period and newcomer Dave Gagner had two assists as the Canucks handed the Stars only their third home defeat this season.

Gagner, acquired in Sunday’s seven-player deal that sent Bure to Florida, set up Vancouver’s first two goals. Ed Jovanovski, also acquired by the Canucks in the trade, took a regular turn in the defensive rotation and played well.

Carolina 4, Toronto 2--Gary Roberts, who returned last season following an 18-month retirement, broke out of a slump with two second-period goals against the Maple Leafs at Greensboro, N.C.

Roberts, who also added an assist, had his first multi-goal game since a hat trick against the Maple Leafs on April 9.

NHL Notes

The New York Islanders acquired center Craig Janney from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a sixth-round draft pick.