Nabokov Finally Solves Avalanche

San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov set a franchise record for career shutouts, blanking the Colorado Avalanche, 3-0, on Friday night at Denver.

Nabokov, in only his second full NHL season, posted his 11th shutout to break the Shark record he had shared with Steve Shields.

Nabokov, last season’s Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year, had 38 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and his first career victory over Colorado after going 0-4-1.

Colorado’s Patrick Roy allowed three goals on 16 shots.

Scott Thornton, Marco Sturm and Mike Ricci had goals for the Sharks, who extended their unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1) and ended Colorado’s unbeaten streak at 10 games.

Thornton and Sturm had first-period goals to give San Jose a 2-0 lead despite being outshot, 13-5.

Bryan Marchment’s shot from the right point was deflected by Thornton in front of the goal at 9:38 for the first score.

In the second period, the Avalanche went 0 for 6 on the power play, including failing to score on a five-on-three advantage for 1:43.

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Calgary 4, Dallas 3--Marc Savard broke a tie with a second-period goal as the Flames rallied from a two-goal deficit at Dallas.

Savard broke a 2-2 tie at 10:55 of the second--1:11after teammate Dean McAmmond had evened the score--by deflecting Bob Boughner’s shot from the right point past Stars’ goaltender Ed Belfour.

Edmonton 2, Tampa Bay 1--Shawn Horcoff had a goal and added an assist on Josh Green’s game-winner as the Oilers rallied at Edmonton, Canada.

Horcoff retrieved his own rebound and found Green in front. Green tucked it into an open net behind goalie Nikolai Khabibulin at 12:25 of the third period.

Buffalo 3, Carolina 2--Stu Barnes scored in overtime and Mika Noronen made 22 saves as the Sabres won at Buffalo, N.Y.

Barnes took an Alexei Zhitnik pass and beat Tom Barrasso stick side for his third career overtime goal.

The goal spoiled a 36-save performance for Barrasso.

Florida 3, New Jersey 2--Pavel Bure had two assists and Trevor Kidd made key third-period saves as the Panthers won at East Rutherford, N.J.

Niklas Hagman, Marcus Nilson and Ivan Novoseltsev scored as the Panthers ended a two-game losing streak and won for only the second time in eight games.

The Panthers are 2-2 since Mike Keenan replaced Duane Sutter as coach.

Chicago 3, Atlanta 1--Tony Amonte and Alex Zhamnov each had a goal and two assists to lead the Blackhawks at Atlanta.

Jocelyn Thibault stopped 30 shots for the Blackhawks.

Chicago won for the fourth time in six games.

Atlanta, which has the fewest victories in the NHL with six, is winless in its last six games.

Minnesota 5, Pittsburgh 2--Sergei Zholtok scored twice and Marian Gaborik added his team-leading 14th goal as the Wild won at Pittsburgh.

Manny Fernandez made 39 saves to help the Wild end a season-worst three-game losing streak.

The Penguins have lost the first two games of a five-game homestand, their longest of the season.