Sharks Lose, Fall Below .500

Craig Conroy and Chris Pronger each had a goal and an assist and Al MacInnis recorded three assists as the St. Louis Blues won, 5-2, Tuesday night at San Jose to prevent the Sharks from increasing their point advantage over the Kings and Mighty Ducks in the Pacific Division.

The Blues scored twice within the first five minutes in each of the first two periods to take control and remain unbeaten in seven games. Five players scored for St. Louis, which played without leading scorer Pierre Turgeon, who missed the game because of flu.

The unbeaten stretch is St. Louis’ longest of the season.

Stephane Matteau scored for the Sharks eight seconds into the game, a team record for the quickest goal. San Jose, winless in three games, fell under .500 for the first time this season.

Detroit’s Michal Handzus received credit for a goal with 7:17 left in the first period. Shark goalie Evgeni Nabokov was leaving the ice on a delayed-penalty call just as Matteau won a battle for the puck along the boards. Matteau played it back and the puck slowly floated into the undefended net.

San Jose’s Alexander Korolyuk became the seventh NHL player to score on a penalty shot, in 21 chances this season, when he converted with 6:48 left in the game.

New Jersey 6, Tampa Bay 5--Sergei Brylin scored the go-ahead goal with just under eight minutes left and the Devils extended their unbeaten streak to nine games, most in the NHL this season, with a victory over the struggling Lightning at Tampa, Fla.

Colorado 4, Nashville 2--Peter Forsberg, who missed the first 23 games of the season following shoulder surgery and then endured an uncharacteristic eight-game slump, extended his point-scoring streak to nine games with a goal and three assists as the Avalanche won at Denver.

Montreal 3, Detroit 0--Jose Theodore, starting in goal in place of Jeff Hackett, who was ill, made 28 save to lead the lowly Canadiens to a shutout victory over the powerful Red Wings at Montreal.

Philadelphia 4, Carolina 3--The Hurricanes entered the game at Raleigh, N.C., with the league’s best home penalty-killing unit, but the Flyers, No. 1 on the power play, scored on their only two man-advantage chances in the final 10 minutes to grab a the victory.

Toronto 3, Boston 2--Igor Korolev scored twice for the Maple Leafs, who won at Boston. The Maple Leafs are 8-0 when Korolev has scored.

The Bruins lost forward Jason Allison for the rest of the season after he decided to have surgery--first on his left thumb and then on his right wrist.

Dallas 3, Edmonton 2--Mike Modano scored with 1:23 left to give the visiting Stars a victory over the Oilers. Modano shoveled the puck in from close range after Mike Keane’s dump-in deflected off Oiler defenseman Jason Smith.