Devils' Elias snares OT winner to beat Lightning

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Patrik Elias scored with 58 seconds left in overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 home win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, a victory that moves them into first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Devils moved to 84 points and a one-point lead over the idle Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Zach Parise put the Devils ahead 1-0 off an Elias assist 12:16 into the first period before Michel Ouellet scored the equalizer for Tampa Bay on a powerplay goal late in the second.

Martin Brodeur stopped 21 shots, including two in overtime, for the victory. Tampa Bay's Karri Ramo made 31 saves.

* Erik Christensen had the only goal of the shootout as the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2. Ilya Kovalchuk forced overtime with his 44th goal of the season for Atlanta with 45 seconds left in regulation.

* Andrew Cogliano's goal 1:53 into overtime gave the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 victory over Columbus after the Blue Jackets had tied the score with a second remaining in regulation. Dan Fritsche just beat the clock for Columbus. Fernando Pisani had given Edmonton the lead.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)