Canadiens Are Still California Dreaming

Craig Rivet scored his first goal of the season 3:50 into overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday night at San Jose.

Martin Rucinsky and Sergei Zholtok also scored for the Canadiens, who extended their unbeaten streak to three games, with all the wins coming against California teams. The Canadiens defeated the Kings and Ducks in the first two games of their road trip.

Jeff Friesen and Vincent Damphousse each had a goal and assist for the Sharks, who remain on top of the Pacific Division with 31 points, most in the NHL.

San Jose, fourth in the NHL in power-play percentage, scored both of its goals on the power play. Montreal had given up only three power-play goals in its previous 13 games and was third in the league in penalty killing.

Pittsburgh 3, Toronto 1--Jaromir Jagr, bothered by a sore thigh muscle for more than a week, scored his first power-play goal this season at Pittsburgh.

Jagr, not certain of playing until game time, put Alexei Kovalev’s across-the-crease pass by Curtis Joseph at 4:29 of the second for the go-ahead goal in a game the Penguins were forced to change goaltenders.

Jean-Sebastien Aubin was lifted at the start of third period after sustaining an undisclosed injury as Toronto defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev crashed into the net late in the second period.

Calgary 3, New York Islanders 2--Fred Brathwaite made 23 saves at Calgary as the Flames won consecutive games for the first time this season.

Brathwaite was starting his fourth straight game in place of Grant Fuhr, who has struggled since being acquired in September from St. Louis.

Valeri Bure, Jason Wiemer, and Jarome Iginla scored for Calgary, which won two in a row at home for the first time since March 21 and 25 last season.