Sharks Pose No Problem for Blue Jackets

Espen Knutsen had his first three-goal game and added an assist as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the San Jose Sharks, 6-2, Thursday night at Columbus, Ohio.

The Blue Jackets began the game with 96 goals scored, fewest in the league. They finished with their highest scoring game of the season.

“I thought our power play tonight was very effective against a very good penalty killing team--one of the best in the league--and that was probably the difference in the game,” Columbus Coach Dave Kind said.

Columbus’ four power-play goals and six goals at Nationwide Arena tied franchise records.

“The power play was just amazing tonight,” Blue Jacket goaltender Ron Tugnutt said.

“We moved the puck around and created a lot of good opportunities.”

Mike Sillinger tied a career high with four points on two goals and two assists, and Grant Marshall and Ray Whitney each had two assists for the Blue Jackets, who ended a three-game losing streak and two game skid at home.

Colorado 2, Calgary 0--David Aebischer made 25 saves and Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury scored at Calgary, Canada, as the Avalanche stretched its winning streak to five games.

It was Aebischer’s first shutout of the season and fourth of his career, but his second straight against Calgary.

On March 29, 2001, Aebischer was in net as Colorado won in Calgary, 1-0.

The game was evenly played until Hejduk put Colorado ahead with 1:46 left in the second period.

Drury added an empty-net goal.

The Avalanche moved eight points ahead of the second-place Edmonton Oilers atop the Northwest Division.

Calgary continues to struggle on its six-game homestand, having lost four of the first five games.

Nashville 3, Philadelphia 2--Nashville’s Denis Arkhipov hammered in a rebound at 1:16 of overtime to give the Predators a victory at Philadelphia, ending the Flyers’ home unbeaten streak at eight games.

The Predators have won only three of their last 19 road games (3-14-2).

Arkhipov scored from the right circle after Philadelphia goaltender Roman Cechmanek made the initial save on a shot by Vladimir Orszagh.

Nashville’s Cliff Ronning scored his second goal of the game at 7:45 of the third to tie the score at 2.

Pittsburgh 5, New York Islanders 4--Alexei Morozov scored 1:29 into overtime as Pittsburgh rallied for the win at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Penguins played without Mario Lemieux, who announced earlier this week he would sit out the game to rest his sore hip.

Morozov, who set up Kris Beech’s tying goal with 3:03 remaining in regulation, won it when he beat Garth Snow with a 35-foot wrist shot.

The Penguins, playing for the third time in four nights, have a five-game win streak.

Atlanta 4, New Jersey 2--Ilya Kovalchuk and Tony Hrkac scored third-period goals for the Thrashers at Atlanta.

The Thrashers were down 2-0 and were outshot 19-2 in the first period.

After giving up the two New Jersey goals in the opening period, Thrasher goaltender Milan Hnilicka stopped 47 shots the rest of the way as Atlanta won for the fifth time in its last seven games.

Ottawa 4, Boston 3--Daniel Alfredsson and Shawn McEachern scored power-play goals three minutes apart in the third period to lead the Senators at Ottawa.

The win gave the Senators their sixth point in their last four games (2-0-1-1) and drew Ottawa within two points of Boston for the Northeast Division lead.

The Bruins have only one win in their last seven games (1-3-0-3).

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The Ottawa Senators signed free-agent forward Jody Hull to a one-year contract. The 32-year-old Hull, who hasn’t played this season, played for Philadelphia last season.... The Atlanta Thrashers acquired goaltender Frederic Cassivi from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Brett Clark.... Rookie defenseman Jeff Jillson was recalled from Cleveland by the San Jose Sharks.