Lightning Remains Unbeaten With Tie

Last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning probably would have folded after falling behind early in a game.

This season, the Lightning (4-0-2-0) is the only team still unbeaten in the NHL.

Columbus’ Geoff Sanderson scored twice in the first period, but the Lightning rallied for the third time this season to salvage a 2-2 tie Wednesday night at Columbus, Ohio.

“Guys believe they can score goals and we can come back on teams,” said Dave Andreychuk, who had a power-play goal 12 seconds into the third period to close the scoring.

It also doesn’t hurt to have Nikolai Khabibulin in goal. He had 24 saves -- many of them in heavy traffic on shots from the wings.

Sanderson connected on his only two shots of the first period.

He scored an even-strength goal two minutes in, skating from the corner and sliding the puck between Khabibulin’s pads.

“He’s a great goalie. He’s probably one of the best in the league -- I’m sure he’s in the top three or four,” Sanderson said. “He probably would have liked to have that first one back. It was kind of a weak goal.”

Washington 2, New York Rangers 1 -- Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist in the second period, and Olaf Kolzig shook off a shot to his mask to help lift the Capitals at New York.

The Capitals improved to 3-2 on their eight-game trip that began after an opening-night victory.

Steve Konowalchuk’s first goal this season gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead and Jagr scored his fifth on the power play about six minutes later.

Matthew Barnaby’s goal for New York, during a delayed-penalty call, came 54 seconds after Jagr’s score.

Bobby Holik caught Kolzig in the mask by his throat when he took a shot from the right side with 5:38 left in the second.

Kolzig was stunned but managed to keep his focus until play stopped seconds later.

New Jersey 2, Atlanta 1 -- Martin Brodeur came within 1.7 seconds of his first shutout this season.

The host Thrashers have lost their first seven games, managing only one point with an overtime loss.

Jeff Friesen scored for New Jersey in the first period and Scott Gomez scored in the third period.

Brodeur had a shutout until Ilya Kovalchuk, playing with a two-man advantage, scored off a scramble in front of the net.

Ottawa 4, Carolina 1 -- Petr Schastlivy scored twice and Patrick Lalime made 20 saves at Ottawa.

With the Senators playing their first game in eight days, Schastlivy scored a power-play goal in the first period. His second came early in the third period, putting Ottawa ahead, 2-0.

Radek Bonk and Mike Fisher also scored for the Senators.

Ron Francis scored his fourth this season with 12:12 left to pull Carolina to within 2-1.

The Senators won their third in a row following a season-opening loss to New Jersey.

Florida 4, Toronto 1 -- Olli Jokinen scored twice and had an assist at Toronto.

The Maple Leafs, booed throughout the third period, have won only two of eight games.

Roberto Luongo made 30 saves for the Panthers, whose two previous victories came against Atlanta.

Valeri Bure and Marcus Nilson also scored for Florida.