Associated Press
The NHL roundup …
ST. LOUIS ó Carolina goalie Cam Ward stopped 19 shots and Tuomo Ruutu scored in the third period, helping the Hurricanes to a 1-0 victory Thursday over the St. Louis Blues.
On the power play, Ruutu deflected a slap shot by Eric Staal from just inside the left circle for the only goal at 9:41. The puck trickled through the pads of goalie Chris Mason, who was playing for the first time since he had emergency appendectomy surgery Oct. 16.
Carolina took advantage while Paul Kariya was off the ice for a hooking penalty. It was the seventh power-play opportunity for the Hurricanes.
The Blues entered the game with the top-ranked power-play in the NHL but St. Louis had just three chances, including two in the third period.
It was the second time in the last three games St. Louis has been shut out.
It was a listless first two periods by both clubs. The Blues didn’t get a shot on goal until 11:12 of the first period. Carolina had just two shots in that span. St. Louis didn’t get its 10th shot until 3:17 of the third period when Andy McDonald was thwarted by Ward.
The Blues had not lost at home to Carolina since the 1999-2000 season. In the last 20 years, the Hurricanes franchise won just three games, going 3-11-2-1 in St. Louis before the victory.
Lightning 5, Sabres 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. ó Rookie Steven Stamkos scored his first two NHL goals and added an assist, and Olaf Kolzig made 29 saves in Tampa Bay’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Jussi Jokinen, Ryan Malone and Paul Ranger also scored for the Lightning, who have won for the third time in their past four games after starting the season with five losses.
Canadiens 2, Wild 1
ST. PAUL, Minn. ó Francis Bouillon and Andrei Markov each scored for Montreal and the Canadiens killed off 10 Minnesota power plays.
Montreal, meanwhile, improved to 7-1-1 and won its second straight.
Flyers 3, Islanders 2, OT
PHILADELPHIA ó Jeff Carter scored two goals, including the winner in overtime, and Philadelphia edged New York for their fourth straight win.
Mike Knuble also scored and Martin Biron made 34 saves for the Flyers, who have rebounded from a 0-3-2 start.
Rangers 3, Thrashers 2
NEW YORK ó Nikolai Zherdev had a goal and assist in the third period, and New York fought off slumping Atlanta.
New York won its fourth straight. Markus Naslund also scored for the Rangers, who have won 10 of 13 (10-2-1).
Predators 3, Oilers 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Shea Weber had a goal and assist and Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat also scored for Nashville.
Sheldon Souray scored for Edmonton.
Senators 2, Panthers 1
SUNRISE, Fla. ó Dany Heatley and Chris Kelly scored third-period goals to help Ottawa rally.
The victory was Ottawa’s second in a row following a four-game losing streak. Florida beat the Senators 3-1 at Ottawa on Oct. 22.