NHL | Sabres put away Capitals in third

WASHINGTON - Tim Connolly backhanded a rebound past goalie Olie Kolzig with 3 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third period to lift the Buffalo Sabres over the Washington Capitals, 5-3, last night.

Connolly, who left the ice in the second period with a gash under his right eye, was positioned just in front of Kolzig.

After Jason Pominville's long shot was batted away by the goalie, Connolly tapped it past him to break a 3-3 tie.

It was Connolly's fifth goal of the year, and gave him points in four straight games.

Jochen Hecht added an empty netter with 1:14 to play for the final margin.

Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Brooks Laich had Washington's goals.

Flames 4, Hurricanes 3

RALEIGH, N.C. - Dion Phaneuf scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lead Calgary past Carolina.

Jarome Iginla, Kristian Huselius and Dustin Boyd also scored for the Flames, who improved to 4-0 on their six-game road trip.

Matt Cullen had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who continued their recent slump despite outshooting Calgary, 36-21.

Maple Leafs 4, Thrashers 0

ATLANTA - Vesa Toskala stopped 24 shots and Toronto took advantage of more second-period success in the opener of the its season-high seven-game road trip.

Toskala posted his second shutout of the season and eighth of his career.

He improved to 6-1 in his last seven games and has not allowed more than two goals in any game during the stretch.

Semenov on IR.

The San Jose Sharks put defenseman Alexei Semenov on injured reserve because of a broken finger on his right hand.

McDonald traded.

Andy McDonald, a key member of the Anaheim Ducks' Stanley Cup championship team last season, was traded to the St. Louis Blues for Doug Weight, Michal Birner and a seventh-round pick in next year's NHL entry draft.

McDonald, in the second year of a three-year, $10 million contract, had 27 goals and 51 assists in 82 games last season, and played in his first NHL All-Star Game.

He has four goals and 12 assists in 33 games this season.