Eric Staal Has 5-Point Game As Canes Whup Capitals

Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal scored twice while adding 3 assists for his 2nd career five point game helping lead the Canes to a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Caps sniper Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and an assist. Ovechkin's goal was his 26th which ties the left winger with Rangers' Marian Gaborik for most so far this season. The 2 points also move him into a third place tie with Gaborik in the overall points race with 49, five back of NHL points leader Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks.

Belanger's Late Goal Give Wild 4-3 Victory Over Kings

Eric Belanger scored twice and added an assist garnering first-star honors as the Minnesota Wild salvaged a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings after allowing LA back into the game from a 3-1 deficit. The Kings outshot Minnesota 32-23 overall, but netminder Niklas Backstrom turned aside enough of the Kings' shots to give Minnesota their 3rd win in a row. The Kings have dropped their last 3 straight.

Fredrik Modin's OT Goal Gives Blue Jackets A 1-0 Win Over Detroit

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Steve Mason earned his second shutout of the season in a goaltending battle with Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings. Both were stellar, with Howard stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced, while Mason stopped 34 Red Wing shots. The teams went to overtime before either goalie was beaten, with left winger Fredrik Modin finally getting one by Howard, 3:12 into the extra period giving Columbus the 1-0 win. The victory snapped a nine game losing streak for the Blue Jackets who have gone without a win for well over a month, and they sank to dead last in the competitive Central Division.