Devils Dish Out a 9-0 Thrashing

Following a three-day break in Hilton Head, S.C., Patrik Elias didn’t mind another day off.

“We just tried to have fun and not give up too many chances and just enjoy it,” Elias said after contributing a penalty shot that helped the visiting New Jersey Devils tie two club records in a 9-0 shutout of the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night. “It was good for us to get a win and get our timing back.”

New Jersey, the top team in the Eastern Conference with 91 points, outshot the expansion Thrashers, 38-19. John Madden and Jay Pandolfo had two goals apiece as the Devils tied the club record for margin of victory--a mark first set on Oct. 26, 1991, when they beat the expansion San Jose Sharks 9-0.

The Devils, who have outscored the Thrashers, 18-2, in three games, hit the nine-goal threshold for the first time since beating Tampa Bay, 9-3, on March 23, 1992.

It marked the sixth time they have scored nine since the franchise moved from Colorado before the 1982-83 season.

“You really don’t know what to expect,” New Jersey Coach Robbie Ftorek said. “The guys did a good job with position, discipline and patience. That’s the way we normally play.”

Atlanta, the worst team in the NHL with 34 points, dropped to 1-21-2 since beating Philadelphia, 1-0, on Jan. 14. The Thrashers have lost seven straight.

New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur, who faced only four shots in the third period, raised his record to 37-14-8.

“It’s always fun to get a lot of goals,” Brodeur said. “When you get that big a lead, your intensity is not as great.”

Madden’s team-record sixth short-handed goal--a breakaway shot from the left circle--gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 9:15 into the first period.

Atlanta goalie Damian Rhodes, who was playing his first game since being sidelined Nov. 17 with ankle and knee injuries, gave up six goals for the second time in 14 starts.

Colorado 4, Edmonton 2--Ray Bourque scored his first two goals as a member of the Avalanche to lead Colorado to a win over the Oilers at Edmonton, Canada.

Bourque, who joined the Avalanche on Monday after being traded from the Boston Bruins, got his 11th and 12th goals of the season on power plays.

Joe Sakic and Adam Deadmarsh also scored for the Avalanche, which leads Edmonton by two points in the Northwest Division.

New York Islanders 4, Dallas 3--Olli Jokinen’s goal with 1:28 left in overtime gave New York a victory over the Stars at Dallas.

Florida 4, Tampa Bay 3--The Panthers scored four goals in a 9:15 span of the third period to defeat the Lightning at Tampa, Fla., and move into a tie for first place in the Southeast Division with idle Washington.

Detroit 3, Nashville 1--Steve Yzerman had a goal and an assist 86 seconds apart in the first period at Nashville, Tenn., to extend the Red Wings’ unbeaten streak to six games.

Boston 5, Carolina 3--Joe Thornton’s goal with 1:35 remaining broke a tie at Raleigh, N.C., and helped the Bruins end a five-game losing slide.

Montreal 3, Buffalo 2--Brian Savage swatted a puck out of the air to score midway through the third period at Buffalo, N.Y., and give the Canadiens their third straight victory.