The New York Rangers started quickly with three goals in the first period that helped them to a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in a clash between division leaders Friday. The Atlantic Division leading Rangers scored in the first minute of the game on a tip-in by Carl Hagelin and extended their lead to 3-0 in the first period with goals by Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto. “Our line did a great job the first period, first shift,” Richards told reporters. “That gave us a little jump. We had a good first period.” Del Zotto's goal late in the period deflected off the foot of Panthers' forward Matt Bradley past goalie Scott Clemmensen who was replaced by Jose Theodore. Clemmensen stopped 11 of 14 shots. Capitals 3, Sabres 1: Alex Ovechkin scored twice and Tomas Vokoun made 25 saves against visiting Buffalo. Ovechkin scored in the first and third periods, a further sign that he is emerging from the spotty play that has run parallel to Washington's slow start. The Sabres lost defenseman Christian Ehrhoff for an extended period when he left late in the first period after a fight. Senators 4, Flames 3: Daniel Alfredsson scored his 400th career goal at 3:31 of overtime to give Ottawa a come-from-behind win over visiting Calgary. Alfredsson drove a slap shot from the left point past Leland Irving on a power play. Predators 2, Blues 1: Martin Erat scored in the fifth round of a shootout to give Nashville a win in St. Louis. Erat sent a shot high over the glove hand of Jaroslav Halak, and Pekka Rinne kept the Blues scoreless on five attempts to win for the second game in a row in a shootout. Blackhawks 3, Red Wings 2: Brent Seabrook scored to break a tie early in the third to lift host Chicago. Marian Hossa scored and Jonathan Toews connected on a penalty shot for Chicago, which improved to 10-2-1 in its last 13 before a season-high crowd of 22,166 at United Center.
