Sharks No Match for Oilers

Ryan Smyth scored three goals in a 2:01 span early in the third period Thursday night to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Edmonton, Canada.

The hurried hat trick broke Wayne Gretzky’s franchise record for fastest three goals by 17 seconds and pushed Smyth over the 500-point mark for his career.

The Sharks were going for the first 4-0 start in franchise history.

Minnesota 3, Washington 2 -- Mikko Koivu scored the only goal in the shootout for undefeated Minnesota at St. Paul, Minn. The Wild is off to its best start in the franchise’s six-year history.

Pittsburgh 6, New York Rangers 5 -- Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal with 3.3 seconds left, his fourth point of the game, and the Penguins pulled out a wild victory at Madison Square Garden.

Calgary 1, Ottawa 0 -- Miikka Kiprusoff made 33 saves for his first shutout and Jarome Iginla scored 11:25 into the third period for the Flames at Ottawa, Canada.

New Jersey 7, Toronto 6 -- Brian Gionta scored three goals in the third period for the Devils, including the tying goal with 37 seconds to play at East Rutherford, N.J. He also scored in the shootout, which the Devils won, 2-1, in four rounds.

St. Louis 3, Boston 2 -- Lee Stempniak scored in regulation and then had the game-winning goal in the shootout in the Blues’ home opener.

Chicago 3, Nashville 1 -- Jeff Hamilton scored on a tip-in with 7:40 left in the third period to snap a tie for the Blackhawks and Martin Havlat added an empty net goal with 36 seconds left at Chicago.