Capitals win, claim points lead

Capitals win, claim points lead • WASHINGTON 4, NEW JERSEY 1: Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each had a goal and two assists Saturday night, and the host Capitals beat the Devils and took a one-point lead over four other teams in the NHL overall standings with 54 points. The Capitals peppered Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with 40 shots.

• N.Y. ISLANDERS 3, RANGERS 2 (OT): Kyle Okposo assisted on the Islanders' first two goals, then scored the winner 4:13 into overtime and ended the host Rangers' four-game winning streak. The Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky scored twice, including the tying goal with 46.6 seconds left.

• CHICAGO 4, NASHVILLE 1: Cristobal Huet made 25 saves, and Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Kane, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp scored for the Blackhawks in Nashville.

• PHOENIX 3, LOS ANGELES 2: Keith Yandle's goal with 9:20 to go enabled the Coyotes to tie a franchise record with their ninth consecutive home victory. Los Angeles failed to score with a three-skater advantage for the final 48 seconds. The Kings also lost right winger Justin Williams to a broken right leg when he collided with two other players and fell awkwardly early in the first period. Williams has eight goals and 16 assists in 33 games.

• VANCOUVER 4, EDMONTON 1: Daniel Sedin had a power-play goal and two assists for the host Canucks. Ryan Potulny scored for Edmonton.

• TAMPA BAY 4, ATLANTA 3: Alex Tanguay scored his first goal in 19 games, a go-ahead score early in the third period that lifted the Lightning over the Thrashers in Tampa, Fla.

• MONTREAL 3, TORONTO 2 (OT): Andrei Kostitsyn scored the winner 34 seconds into overtime for the Canadiens in Toronto. Winning goalie Jaroslav Halak finished with 47 saves, stopping the first 32 shots he faced.

• SAN JOSE 5, ANAHEIM 2: Patrick Marleau scored twice in the first period, the 300th and 301st goals of his career, and the host Sharks defeated the Ducks for their fourth consecutive victory. Marleau has scored four of his 25 goals this season against Anaheim.

• PHILADELPHIA 4, CAROLINA 3 (SO): The visiting Flyers blew a three-goal lead in the final 11 minutes, but Mike Richards and Danny Briere saved the Flyers with shootout goals. Jussi Jokinen scored two goals for the Hurricanes.

• DETROIT 2, COLUMBUS 1: Todd Bertuzzi ended a Red Wings scoreless streak of more than 167 minutes with a goal in the second period, then scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period for the host Red Wings.

• OTTAWA 3, BUFFALO 2 (SO): Alex Kovalev and Mike Fisher scored in the shootout, and the Senators won in Buffalo, N.Y., despite playing without injured Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza. The Sabres' Ryan Miller made 38 saves, 19 in the first period.

• COLORADO 4, DALLAS 1: Peter Budaj made 39 saves, and Chris Stewart scored twice for the Avalanche in Denver. The Stars suffered only their third regulation loss of the month.