RALEIGH, N. Carolina: Michal Neuvirth stopped 29 shots for his first NHL shutout as the Washington Capitals beat Carolina 3-0 on Wednesday to spoil the Hurricanes' first game on home ice. Nicklas Backstrom scored two goals, including an empty-netter, and Matt Hendricks also scored for the Capitals. They began a three-game road swing by winning their second straight. The 22-year-old Neuvirth made several highlight-reel stops. He snatched a wrist shot out of the air from Eric Staal, and stuffed a nifty wraparound backhander from 18-year-old rookie Jeff Skinner. Thrashers 6, Rangers 4: At New York, Niclas Bergfors had a goal and an assist and Atlanta scored twice early in the third period then held on to end New York's winning streak at three games. Bergfors gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead in the second period and assisted on Dustin Byfuglien's power-play goal in the third that stretched the Thrashers' edge to three goals. Bryan Little, Evander Kane, Eric Boulton and Andrew Ladd also scored and Chris Mason made 24 saves. Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery, Todd White and Brian Boyle had goals for the Rangers, who started backup goalie Martin Biron over Henrik Lundqvist for the second time this season. Blackhawks 3, Kings 1: In Chicago, Marty Turco made 33 saves, Viktor Stalberg scored the deciding goal and Patrick Sharp added his NHL-leading ninth goal of the season to help Chicago end a two-game losing streak. Turco, signed to a one-year contract to replace Antti Niemi in the offseason, allowed only Justin Williams' first-period goal. The Kings outshot the Blackhawks 15-8 in the third period, pressuring Chicago until Sharp scored with 2:05 remaining. Jake Dowell also scored for Stanley Cup champion Chicago. Stalberg made it 2-1 at 1:18 in the second period, backhanding the puck over goalie Jonathan Bernier's left shoulder off a rebound in the slot. Lightning 5, Penguins 3: At Tampa, Martin St. Louis blew past Pittsburgh defenseman Ben Lovejoy and lifted a shot over goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to put Tampa Bay up 4-3 with 13:20 to play, then made it a two-goal game with Fleury on the bench for an extra skater with 30.8 seconds remaining. Canadiens 5, Islanders 3: At Montreal, Tomas Plekanec and Jeff Halpern each had a goal and an assist, and Carey Price made 18 saves to help Montreal extend its winning streak to three. Sharks 5, Devils 2: In San Jose, Joe Thornton scored his fourth career hat trick and added two assists in the Sharks' 5-2 victory over the slumping New Jersey. 4-year contract ratified The National Hockey League's board of governors and the NHL Officials' Association ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement Wednesday. The previous contract expired on Aug. 31 and the league's officials and linesmen had worked the pre-season schedule without a contract until reaching a tentative agreement days before the regular season began on Oct. 7. “We are pleased to have reached a new agreement with our officials,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said.
