Making waves: Sharks are off to record start

Joe Thornton had a goal and three assists in San Jose's fantastic first period, and the Sharks breezed to their eighth straight victory, 5-2, over the Maple Leafs last night at San Jose, Calif.

Devin Setoguchi, Dan Boyle, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored in the first 17:07 for the Sharks (21-3-1), who matched the best start in NHL history through 25 games with another one-sided win at the Shark Tank. The Montreal Canadiens also had 43 points through 25 games in the 1943-44 season, going 20-2-3.

Evgeni Nabokov stopped 29 shots and Joe Pavelski added a shorthanded goal in the third period as the Sharks improved to 13-0-1 at home under rookie coach Todd McLellan, who replaced Ron Wilson, Toronto's coach, during the summer. San Jose, which has earned a point in 23 straight regular-season games at the always-raucous Tank, is the only NHL team without a home loss in regulation. The Sharks haven't lost at all since Nov. 11.

Flyers 4, Lightning 3 - Mike Richards scored two goals, including the winner 2:05 into overtime, and host Philadelphia sent Tampa Bay to its fifth straight loss.

Richards took a backhanded pass from Kimmo Timonen high in the slot and put a slap shot past Mike Smith.

The Lightning, whom the Bruins visit tomorrow night, missed an opportunity to win with 16.3 seconds left in regulation when Ryan Malone was awarded a penalty shot but pushed the attempt wide of the net.

Canadiens 5, Thrashers 4 - Andrei Kostitsyn scored with 5:11 remaining and host Montreal recovered from blowing a three-goal lead earlier in the third period.

Kostitsyn, who scored against Johan Hedberg, helped set up two of Montreal's first three goals as the Canadiens carried a 3-0 lead into the third period.

Ron Hainsey scored twice as Atlanta netted three goals in less than a minute to erase a 3-0 deficit 7:27 into the third.

The Thrashers broke two franchise records for fastest goals. They scored three times within 59 seconds, including two seven seconds apart by Hainsey and Chris Thorburn.

Panthers 5, Capitals 3 - Radek Dvorak, Ville Peltonen, and Gregory Campbell had a goal and an assist each to help visiting Florida beat Washington.

Nicklas Backstrom's power-play goal gave Washington a 1-0 first-period lead. His pass banged off defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's foot and in with 4:03 left.

Coyotes 4, Kings 2 - Enver Lisin scored twice in a four-minute span of the third period to lift Phoenix in Glendale, Ariz.

Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal also scored, and onetime backup goaltender Mikael Tellqvist made 32 saves for the Coyotes, who won for the third time in four games.

Stars 3, Flames 1 - Fabian Brunnstrom's breakaway goal at 7:53 of the second period stood up as the winner as Dallas beat visiting Calgary.

Marty Turco made 36 saves for the Stars, allowing only a David Moss goal.