National Hockey League (Nhl)

Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist in his first game back from the injured list and Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves and the San Jose Sharks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for the seventh straight time at home, 5-0 Saturday night. Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby was held pointless for a fourth straight game for the fourth time in his career. He hit the post with a shot early in the second period but was unable to convert against Nabokov and the Sharks. Dan Boyle, Dany Heatley, Jamie McGinn and Manny Malhotra also scored for San Jose, which has eight wins and a tie ... Read Full Story

Sean Bergenheim, Blake Comeau and Jack Hillen each scored their first goals of the season to help the New York Islanders break out of a two-game offensive drought and beat the Atlanta Thrashers 6-3 on Saturday night. The Islanders (6-6-5) have been streaky. They went winless in their first six (0-3-3). But they had won four straight before taking a two-game losing streak into this game, scoring one goal over 120 minutes. Their six goals and 45 shots were season highs. They came out aggressively against the Thrashers (6-6-1), outscoring them 3-1 in the first period on goals by Andy Sutton, Bergenheim and Hillen. ... Read Full Story

SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - San Jose netminder Evgeni Nabokov stopped 27 shots for his 49th career shutout as the Sharks crushed the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0 in an early season clash of NHL division leaders on Saturday. Joe Pavelski, returning from a broken foot, joined Dan Boyle and Manny Malhotra as each delivered a goal and an assist to help the Pacific Division-leading Sharks remain unbeaten in five regulation games at home this season. Jamie McGinn and Dany Heatley also scored for San Jose. Pittsburgh, the Atlantic Division's top team and defending Stanley Cup champion, lost on the road for only the second time ... Read Full Story

Detroit Red Wings forward Jason Williams could miss two months after fracturing his right fibula in a 5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Williams crashed hard into the boards during the second period. The 29-year-old right winger was on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the dressing room. Williams was off to a relatively slow start with two goals and seven points through 14 games, but was still fifth on the team in scoring. He will now likely miss at least two months. "Losing Willy was a blow to us," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He's playing ... Read Full Story

Sean Bergenheim, Blake Comeau and Jack Hillen each scored their first goals of the season to help the New York Islanders break out of a two-game offensive drought and beat the Atlanta Thrashers 6-3 on Saturday night. The Islanders (6-6-5) have been streaky. They went winless in their first six (0-3-3). But they had won four straight before taking a two-game losing streak into this game, scoring one goal over 120 minutes. Their six goals and 45 shots were season highs. They came out aggressively against the Thrashers (6-6-1), outscoring them 3-1 in the first period on goals by Andy Sutton, Bergenheim and Hillen. ... Read Full Story

Phil Kessel scored his first goal with Toronto and Jonas Gustavsson made 35 saves to lead the Maple Leafs to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. After a dreadful start to the season, things have started to turn around for the Maple Leafs. They've been playing much better hockey the past two weeks — buoyed in large part by Gustavsson taking over the No. 1 goaltending job — and have moved out of the NHL basement by winning two in a row and earning points in seven straight games (3-0-4). Wayne Primeau, Jeff Finger, John Mitchell and Alexei Ponikarovsky ... Read Full Story

Tomas Fleischmann scored twice during a five-goal third period, and the short-handed Washington Capitals beat the Florida Panthers 7-4 Saturday night for a sweep of their home-and-home series. Washington played a third straight game without two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin, who has an upper body injury. The Capitals were also without injured defensemen Mike Green and Jeff Schultz, both of whom were hurt Friday night during a 4-1 victory in Florida. But the Capitals prevailed anyway. Getting 23 saves from goaltender Jose Theodore and goals 40 seconds apart from Mathieu Perreault and Quintin Laing, Washington defeated the Panthers for the second time in two ... Read Full Story