VANCOUVER: Jiri Hudler scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks in Saturday's clash of the top two teams in the NHL. Johan Franzen tied it for Detroit on a power-play breakaway in the first minute of the third period and the Red Wings went on to end the Canucks' eight-game winning streak. Despite the loss Vancouver remained atop the NHL standings with 60 points, one more than Detroit and three ahead of Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia. Daniel Sedin scored a second-period, power-play goal for the Canucks, who haven't lost in regulation in 16 games (13-0-3). Wild 4, Penguins 0: In Pittsburgh, Minnesota extended its unlikely hex over Pittsburgh by winning 4-0 against a Penguins team missing Sidney Crosby. Stand-in goaltender Jose Theodore made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season while Chuck Kobasew, Martin Havlat, Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Brodziak scored for the Wild, who are on a season-high four-game winning streak. Theodore has an impressive 19-4-3 record against Pittsburgh. He has started each game of the Minnesota winning streak because usual starter Nicklas Backstrom is out with a groin injury. Theodore has allowed only two goals in three games. The Wild are 9-2-1 against the Penguins and have never allowed more than two goals in a game, and have won six of seven games in Pittsburgh. Crosby missed his second straight game – both Penguins losses – because of a concussion. Rangers 2, Blues 1: In St. Louis, New York goalie Martin Biron made 24 saves to beat St. Louis for the first time in 11 career games. Canadiens 3, Bruins 2, OT: In Montreal, Max Pacioretty scored in overtime, completing Montreal's comeback win over Boston. Predators 2, Sharks 1: In San Jose, Sergei Kostitsyn broke a tie early in the third period by scoring in his fifth straight game to lead Nashville over San Jose. Lightning 2, Senators 1: In Ottawa, Martin St. Louis scored a tiebreaking goal in the third period to give Tampa Bay victory over Ottawa. Capitals 3, Panthers 2: In Washington, Alex Ovechkin's skates left the ice as he scored a goal off a breakaway, helping Washington edge Florida. Kings 6, Blue Jackets 4: In Los Angeles, the home team snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Columbus. Sabres 2, Coyotes 1, OT: In Glendale, Arizona, Drew Stafford scored in overtime to lift Buffalo over Phoenix. Flyers 2, Devils 1: In Philadelphia, James van Riemsdyk and Danny Briere scored and Brian Boucher stopped 34 shots to lead Philadelphia over New Jersey. Islanders 4, Avalanche 3, OT: In Denver, John Tavares's overtime winner gave New York victory over Colorado.
