NEWARK — Forwards Patrik Elias and Jacob Josefson scored shootout goals for the New Jersey Devils in their 3-2 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens Friday. Montreal (47-23-9) wasted an opportunity to gain ground on the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers, who were idle. It trails New York by one point for the top spot in the conference. The Canadiens are just one point ahead of second-place Tampa Bay, who did not play Friday, in the Atlantic Division with three games left — one more than the Lightning. The Devils got regulation goals from left wingers Stefan Matteau and Reid Boucher while center Tomas Plekanec ended a five-game scoring drought and defenseman Jeff Petry also scored in regulation for Montreal. Blackhawks 4, Sabres 3: Center Jonathan Toews scored twice in the final 1:43 to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a comeback win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Blackhawks captain tied the game with 1:43 remaining on a backhand shot while diving to the ice. His game-winning goal came with 56 seconds remaining on a quick wrist shot from the right circle. Defenseman Duncan Keith and left winger Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks. Goalie Scott Darling made 35 saves. Blues 7, Stars 5: St Louis left winger Jaden Schwartz scored a hat-trick and goalie Brian Elliott stopped 26-of-31 shots as the Blues beat the Dallas Stars. With the win, St Louis (48-23-7) pulled even with Nashville for first place in the Central Division. Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo scored the eventual game-winner with 10:03 remaining when he beat Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen far post with a wrist shot from the slot. Seven different Blues finished the game with multiple points — left winger Patrik Berglund (two goals), defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Kevin Shattenkirk plus right winger T.J. Oshie (two assists) and a goal and an assist each from Pietrangelo and fellow defenseman Zbynek Michalek. Sharks 3, Coyotes 1: Once again the San Jose Sharks did just enough to beat an inferior opponent. Now they need some help. Left wing Matt Nieto scored a big insurance goal late in the third period to break open a tight affair as San Jose beat Arizona in front of a sell-out crowd during the team's penultimate game at SAP Center. The Sharks pulled to within three points of eighth place in the West and will have one eye on the scoreboard when they and the Coyotes reacquaint in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday. The three teams San Jose is pursuing for a playoff spot in the West — Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Calgary — are also all in action Saturday. Avalanche 4, Ducks 2: The Colorado Avalanche appeared to be circling the drain, but on Friday they circled the wagons against one of the NHL's top teams. The Avalanche beat the league-leading Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center to stave off mathematical elimination for at least one more day. Center John Mitchell, left winger Gabriel Landeskog, center Matt Duchene and right winger Dennis Everberg scored for Colorado while left winger Jiri Sekac and center Rickard Rakell found the back of the net for Anaheim. — Reuters
