Flyers move into first place with OT win
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Philadelphia Flyers roared into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 home overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Scott Hartnell scored the game-winner, the puck deflecting past Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera with 28.5 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Flyers their ninth win in their last 11.
The play was reviewed and ruled to be legal because it went off Hartnell's skate and adjudged not to have been kicked intentionally into the net.
"I saw the replay and it was a goal," LaBarbera told reporters.
Simon Gagne and Braydon Coburn also scored for Philadelphia, who went a point clear of the Pittsburgh Penguins and two ahead of the New Jersey Devils in a division where just seven points separate the five teams.
"It doesn't matter how pretty they are -- it matters when you win games and we got two points tonight," said Hartnell. "It was huge and just two more points in the standings and we need to keep on with that."
The Kings, who are last in the NHL in the overall standings, have not won in Philadelphia for nearly eight years.
* The Penguins, playing their fourth game since losing Sidney Crosby with an ankle injury, had two goals from Ryan Malone and a goal and an assist from Erik Christensen in a 4-2 road win over the New Jersey Devils.
* All-star Tim Thomas made 37 saves and Glen Metropolit scored two goals in the third period to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 home triumph over the Nashville Predators.
* Cristobal Huet made 35 saves for his 15th career shutout as the Montreal Canadiens overpowered the Washington Capitals 4-0, the third straight win for Montreal and their seventh in the last nine games.
* Mike Fisher had a goal and an assist and the Ottawa Senators cruised to a 5-2 road victory over the New York Islanders with goalie Martin Gerber making 23 saves for his 23rd victory of the season.
* Evgeni Nobokov posted his sixth shutout of the season as the San Jose Sharks cruised to a 3-0 win at the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose's third straight victory.
(Writing by Mike Shalin; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
