“Every time I get to play I want to get the win, but to win against those guys makes it a little more special,’’ said Danis, who signed as a free agent after spending last season with the Islanders. “You always want to play well against your former team.’’

Brian Rolston scored the winner on a power play and defenseman Cory Murphy added his first goal as a Devil as New Jersey posted its 10th win in 12 games.

Frans Nielsen scored for the Islanders, who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row. Martin Biron had 29 saves for New York.

The game also marked the return of Patrik Elias to the Devils’ lineup. He missed the first 13 coming back from hip and groin surgery.

Danis had a relatively easy night as Jacques Lemaire’s team bottled up the Islanders for most of the game.

Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 3 - Chris Stewart scored in the eighth round of the shootout, helping Colorado remain unbeaten at home.

Dustin Byfuglien had a chance to tie, but sent his slap shot just wide. The teams engaged in a nine-round shootout earlier this season.

Ryan O’Reilly scored twice for Colorado in regulation, while David Jones added a shorthanded goal.

The Avalanche moved to 6-0 at Pepsi Center this season, matching the franchise record for consecutive home wins to start a season.

Byfuglien, Duncan Keith, and Andrew Ladd scored for the Blackhawks, who lost for the second straight night.

Maple Leafs 3, Hurricanes 2 - Jason Blake scored on a power play with 8:24 left and Jonas Gustavsson made 34 saves to help visiting Toronto win for the second time in 14 games.

Brandon Sutter and Sergei Samsonov scored for Carolina, off to the worst start in franchise history. Last in the NHL at 2-10-3, the Hurricanes are winless in their last 11 games.

Flyers 5, Sabres 2 - Daniel Carcillo scored twice and Ray Emery made 28 saves to lead visiting Philadelphia to its fifth straight victory. Chris Pronger had a goal and assist, and James van Riemsdyk and Darroll Powe also scored. The Flyers have won three straight by a combined score of 17-5.

Derek Roy had a power-play goal and assist, rookie Tyler Myers also scored with the man advantage for Buffalo, and Ryan Miller made 32 saves. The Sabres (9-3-1) have lost two of their last three after an 8-1-1 start.

Capitals 4, Panthers 1 - Jose Theodore stopped 28 shots and Brian Pothier had a goal and two assists as Washington won in Sunrise, Fla., to break a three-game losing streak.

Brendan Morrison scored twice and Tyler Sloan added a goal for the Capitals in the opening of a home-and-home series.

Stars 2, Canucks 1 - Brad Richards scored midway through the second period, Brenden Morrow added a third-period power-play goal, and host Dallas beat Vancouver despite a 45-save performance by Boston College product Cory Schneider.