Brodeur, Devils Shut Out Canucks to Extend Streak

The New Jersey Devils, playing the stifling style that carried them to three Stanley Cup championships, defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 3-0, Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J., for their fifth consecutive victory.

Martin Brodeur made 26 saves for his second consecutive shutout. It was the 78th shutout of his career and third in five games. Brian Gionta scored two power-play goals in the third period to help end the Canucks’ three-game winning streak.

Carolina 5, Nashville 4 -- Frantisek Kaberle scored on a penalty shot midway through overtime to lead the Hurricanes past the Predators at Raleigh, N.C. Kaberle was awarded the chance when Scott Hartnell threw his stick along the ice to slow Kaberle as he skated in for a breakaway against Tomas Vokoun.

Atlanta 2, St. Louis 0 -- Kari Lehtonen made 37 saves at Atlanta in his second career shutout and the Thrashers beat the Blues for their franchise record-tying fourth consecutive victory.

Patrik Stefan gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead that stood up from the first period until the third when Ilya Kovalchuk scored his NHL-leading 34th goal with 5:39 left.

Tampa Bay 4, Columbus 2 -- The victory at Tampa, Fla., was Coach John Tortorella’s 143rd with the Lightning, which moved him past Terry Crisp for most in franchise history. Martin St. Louis gave the Lightning a 3-1 lead when he scored on a wrist shot with 9:30 to play.

Chicago 4, Pittsburgh 1 -- Andy Hilbert scored two goals, and rookie Adam Munro stopped 28 shots at Chicago for the Blackhawks, who have won two of three following a 10-game losing streak.

*

The NHL will begin testing for performance enhancing drugs for the first time Sunday, a policy worked out in a collective bargain agreement this summer. Players will be asked to submit to testing at random on days they practice but not on game days, with up to two testing periods per season.

Under the agreement, the first offense would carry a 20-game suspension, and a second positive test would result in a 60-game suspension. A player will be permanently suspended for a third violation.

*

Times staff writer Chris Foster contributed to this report.