Milestone Victory for Devils’ Brodeur

After playing in hundreds of tight games, Martin Brodeur became the first NHL goaltender to win 30 games in nine consecutive seasons in a most unexpected way -- a laugher.

“It’s a pretty good accomplishment,” Brodeur said after the New Jersey Devils cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J. “I’m pretty excited about it.”

Brodeur (30-17-10) had to make only 20 saves in moving ahead of recently retired Patrick Roy for consecutive 30-win seasons.

The goal-scoring binge by the usually defensive-minded Devils was their biggest output since October 2000.

Brian Gionta, Patrik Elias and Jay Pandolfo scored two goals apiece.

Pittsburgh 4, Phoenix 3 -- The Penguins ended an 18-game winless streak when Ric Jackman scored with 3:12 left in overtime at Glendale, Ariz.

The Penguins rallied from a two-goal deficit in the Coyotes’ first game since making a coaching change. Phoenix interim Coach Rick Bowness took over the club after Bobby Francis was fired Tuesday.

Tampa Bay 4, Atlanta 2 -- Vincent Lecavalier scored two goals and the Lightning improved its road record to 11-2-0-3 in its last 16 games.

Florida 4, Toronto 0 -- Roberto Luongo made 33 saves for his second consecutive shutout to help the Panthers win at Sunrise, Fla.

Chicago 4, Columbus 3 -- The Blackhawks’ Tuomo Ruutu had two goals at Columbus, Ohio.

Carolina 2, Washington 1 -- At Washington, Erik Cole and Jeff O’Neill had goals in the Hurricanes’ first victory in six games against the Capitals this season.