Edmonton Backup Blanks Blue Jackets, 4-0

Backup goaltender Jussi Markkanen stopped 26 shots for his third shutout of the season in the Edmonton Oilers’ 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night at Edmonton.

It was the fifth shutout of Markkanen’s career. He has made 20 appearances this season. Brad Isbister, Ryan Smyth, Cory Cross and Jason Chimera scored for the Oilers, who have won four consecutive games. Columbus, last in the Western Conference with 64 points, has lost three of four.

Atlanta 1, New Jersey 1 -- Marc Savard of the Thrashers and Scott Gomez of the Devils scored slightly more than four minutes apart in the third period at Atlanta. The Devils lead Philadelphia by four points in the Atlantic Division.

Toronto 5, New York Islanders 2 -- The Islanders have lost four consecutive home games and are five points from clinching the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ed Belfour stopped 37 shots for the fifth-place Maple Leafs.

Washington 3, Ottawa 2 -- The host Senators, who had their four-game unbeaten streak end, failed to get their franchise-record 49th win. They still lead the NHL with 105 points.

Minnesota 4, Chicago 3 -- Richard Park scored with 1:14 left in overtime at St. Paul, Minn., to give the Wild its first win since clinching its first playoff berth Sunday.

Cliff Ronning sent the game to overtime with a goal for Minnesota with 36.9 seconds left in regulation. The goal completed a wild third period in which the teams traded four goals during the final 10 minutes.

Buffalo 4, Montreal 1 -- At Buffalo, Taylor Pyatt had his first career three-goal game for the Sabres. Pyatt, playing after sitting out four games because of a concussion, has six goals and nine points in his last eight games.

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Defenseman Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues will play today for the first time since he was hurt in a playoff game last season. The Blues play host to Detroit today. A win would move them within three points of the Central Division-leading Red Wings.

Pronger has been practicing for several weeks while recovering from severe knee and wrist injuries. He announced his return Friday after the team’s morning workout.