Hurricanes Can’t Get Past Brodeur, Devils

After they made former defenseman Scott Stevens the first player in franchise history to have his number retired, the New Jersey Devils played one of their best games of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

It was a game Stevens, who captained the Devils to Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003, would have loved: the Devils clamping down in the neutral zone, converting on their scoring chances and getting another solid performance from goaltender Martin Brodeur.

The Canadian Olympian became the third goalie in NHL history to reach 100 shutouts. Brodeur, who had 28 saves, joined Terry Sawchuk (115) and George Hainsworth (102) as the only goalies to register 100 or more career shutouts in the regular season and playoffs.

Brodeur has five shutouts this season -- all in the last five weeks -- and is seventh all-time with 80 regular-season shutouts. He has 20 in the playoffs. The win was the seventh in a row at home for the Devils (28-20-6), and it ended a five-game winning streak by Carolina (37-12-4).

Washington 4, Toronto 1 -- Alexander Ovechkin picked up an assist in his return to the lineup, helping the Capitals beat the visiting Maple Leafs. He sat out Washington’s last game because of a groin injury.

With an assist on Mike Green’s first career goal in the first period, Ovechkin, who has 34 goals and 32 assists, moved to within one point of Washington’s rookie scoring record. Bob Carpenter and Chris Valentine each scored 67 points in 1981-82.

Florida 5, Atlanta 2 -- Chris Gratton scored twice, Jon Sim had the go-ahead goal in the third period and the Panthers handed the visiting Thrashers their seventh consecutive loss. Joe Nieuwendyk and Nathan Horton also scored for Florida, and Roberto Luongo made 37 saves. Trailing, 2-1, the Panthers scored four consecutive goals.

Vancouver 3, Calgary 1 -- Henrik Sedin scored a goal and had an assist and Daniel Sedin added three assists at Calgary as the brothers led the Canucks to their third win in a row and into a tie with the Flames for first place in the Northwest Division.

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Ladislav Nagy, the Phoenix Coyotes’ leading scorer, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and team officials said he would sit out the rest of the regular season. Nagy hurt the knee during a Jan. 23 game against Dallas. The 26-year-old left wing was having the best season of his six-year NHL career with 15 goals and 41 assists.