Jakub Kindl, Johan Franzen, and Valtteri Filppula scored first-period goals for Detroit (16-7-1), which last won seven in a row in March 2010. Pavel Datsyuk pushed the lead to 4-1 by scoring into an empty net with 1:17 left.

Howard, making his 17th straight start, was steady throughout. In the second period he robbed Jason Pominville, who was left alone in the slot. He then stopped Nathan Gerbe on a breakaway in the third.

Jochen Hecht spoiled Howard’s shutout bid with 6:13 remaining.

Jhonas Enroth, making his ninth straight start in place of No. 1 goalie Ryan Miller, made 32 saves for the Sabres (13-11-1), who have lost three of four.

Miller was in uniform for the first time since sustaining a concussion nearly three weeks earlier, and served as Enroth’s backup. Miller might start tonight at Nashville against the Predators.

Hecht made it 3-1 after converting a two-on-one break with Pominville with a shot from the left circle.

Flyers 4, Ducks 3 - Claude Giroux scored 3:29 into overtime and Philadelphia rallied from a three-goal deficit as host Anaheim collapsed in coach Bruce Boudreau’s debut.

Jaromir Jagr scored two power-play goals and Scott Hartnell tied it with 3:02 left in regulation for the Flyers, who trailed, 3-0, late in the second period. Ilya Bryzgalov made 19 saves in Philadelphia’s return from a five-day break.

Teemu Selanne and Andrew Cogliano scored first-period goals and Jonas Hiller stopped 43 shots for the Ducks, who lost for the 17th time in 20 games. Anaheim couldn’t maintain its fast start under Boudreau, who replaced Randy Carlyle late Wednesday night after getting fired by Washington on Monday morning.

Oilers 6, Blue Jackets 3 - Ryan Jones scored his first career hat trick and host Edmonton snapped a three-game losing skid with a victory over Columbus.

Jordan Eberle, Ales Hemsky and Ladislav Smid also scored for the Oilers, who improved to 8-3-2 at home.

Derek Dorsett had a pair of goals and Mark Letestu also scored as the Blue Jackets lost their third in four games.

Blackhawks 5, Islanders 4 - Jonathan Toews netted the only goal in the shootout, after posting a shorthanded goal and assist in regulation, and Chicago outlasted visiting New York.

Corey Crawford stopped New York’s Frans Nielsen and Nino Niederreiter in the shootout. Matt Moulson, the final Islanders shooter, hit the post to end the game.

Andrew Brunette, rookie Ben Smith and Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks, who overcame a sluggish start and defensive breakdowns.

Wild 4, Devils 2 - Host Minnesota scored three goals on its first four shots and sent New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur to the bench in the first period in its win.

Dany Heatley, Kyle Brodziak and Casey Wellman scored in a 3:03 span of the first period to turn an early deficit into a 3-1 lead and knock Brodeur out of the game just 8:17 in.

Avalanche 3, Blues 2 - Ryan O’Reilly scored the tying goal, then added another in the shootout to lift Colorado over St. Louis in Denver.

O’Reilly, who also had an assist, lifted a backhander over the shoulder of Jaroslav Halak for the only goal in the tiebreaker. Milan Hejduk, who netted his ninth goal of the season, and Matt Duchene had already been stopped in the shootout by Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak.