Matt Niskanen scored in the 11th round of the shootout to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Friday, handing the high-flying hosts their fourth straight NHL loss. Dallas, which got goals from Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards in regulation time, overcame a stellar performance by San Jose goalie Evgeni Naboko. Nabokov made 42 saves prior to the shootout and then blocked the previous eight chances in the shootout before Niskanen's winner. Dany Heatley and Rob Blake scored for San Jose, which retained the Western Conference lead but ceded the overall NHL lead to Washington. Sabres 2, Blackhawks 1: In Buffalo, New York, second-string goaltender Patrick Lalime starred with 39 saves, helping Buffalo defeat Chicago. Thomas Vanek and Clarke MacArthur scored for Buffalo, which moved back to the top of the Northeast Division, leapfrogging Boston. Lalime, making just his third start of the season in favor of Ryan Miller, stopped 17 shots in the first period, and extended the Sabres' shutout sequence to 140 minutes before Chicago's Patrick Sharp scored 30 seconds into the third period to make it 2-1. Lalime also stood strong in the third period when the Blackhawks fired nine straight shots at him to start the frame, and 16 overall. Wild 2, Flames 1, OT: In Calgary, Alberta, Martin Havlat scored at 3:15 of overtime to give Minnesota victory over Calgary. Havlate took a cross-ice pass from Marek Zidlicky and beat Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. James Sheppard also scored for the Wild, who have won seven of their past eight games. Aaron Johnson scored for Calgary, while Kiprusoff stopped 44 of 46 shots he faced. Panthers 4, Devils 2: In Newark, New Jersey, Florida ended a four-game losing skid by downing New Jersey. Scott Clemmensen made 26 saves to beat his former teammates while Michael Frolik scored twice for the Panthers. Jordan Leopold and Shawn Matthias also scored as Florida notched just a second regulation win in 11 games. Brian Rolston and Dean McAmmond scored for the Devils, who lost their first game in five. Clemmensen, who shone when he stood in for New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur last season, was playing against his old team for the first time. Elsewhere it was: Avalanche 2, Lightning 1, SO; Oilers 5, Blues 3; Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3, OT; Red Wings 3, Ducks 2, OT.
