NHL Roundup Thursday: Buffalo matches best start in NHL history

The Buffalo Sabres have matched the 1993-94 Toronto Maple Leafs for the best start in NHL history. The Sabres moved to 10-0-0 after beating the New York Islanders 3-0 in Nassau Coliseum. The loss dropped the Islanders to 3-4-2 on the year. Ryan Miller, the Sabres goalie, improved to 8-0 on the year and had his third career shutout. Buffalo got goals from Ales Kotalik, Maxim Afinogenov and Jason Pominville. Buffalo hosts the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday, a victory will give them the best start in NHL history.

Martin St. Louis recorded his fourth career hat trick and the Tampa Bay Lightning pounded visiting Carolina 5-1. St. Louis gathered all three goals in the span of 6:17 in the second period and helped Tampa Bay win its fourth game in their last five. Tampa improved to 5-4-0 while the Hurricanes of Caroline fell to 4-5-2.

Andrei Markov scored with 1.2 seconds left in the third period to give the Montreal Canadians a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. While there was still time left, officials called the game after the Boston crowd began throwing items onto the ice. Despite attempts by the public address announcer calling for fans to stop, the debris continued to rain down. The Canadians skated off the ice with an improved 5-2-2 mark while the Bruins moved to 2-5-1.

The Nashville Predators were able to secure a home win over the San Jose Sharks with the help of Scott Hartnell’s two goals. The Predators 4-3 victory pushed them to 5-3-1 while the Sharks suffered their fourth loss on the year and moved to 7-4-0.

Martin Brodeur recorded his 82nd career shutout moving into a tie for fourth on the all-time list and the New Jersey Devils knocked off the Florida Panthers 2-0. Zach Parise and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils who improved to 5-4-1. The Panthers are now 5-6-1 on the year.

Dany Heatley continued his hot streak, recording his fourth career hat trick and the Ottawa Senators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-2. Heatley now has scored in four straight games for the Senators who improved to 5-4-0. Toronto fell to 4-4-3.

It was another overtime loss for the Atlanta Thrashers, this time in a shootout. Coming off last nights defeat in extra time in Carolina, the Thrashers couldn’t figure out Philadelphia Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki in the shootout. Philadelphia got goals from Peter Forsberg and Simon Gagne in the shootout phase and John Stevens captured a win in his head coaching debut for the Flyers. Atlanta dropped to 7-1-3, Philadelphia is now 2-6-1.

The Phoenix Coyotes snapped a four game losing streak after knocking off the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night 6-2. The Coyotes moved to 3-8-0 while the loss dropped the Oilers to 6-4-0.