Andrew Ference scored his first goal in 100 games to help the host Boston Bruins beat Washington, 3-2, on Saturday night and send the Capitals to their eighth straight loss.

The Bruins led, 3-0, after one period and held on as the Capitals cut the deficit to one goal, outshooting Boston, 26-2, in the third period. Tim Thomas made 39 saves in all, including a stop on Alex Ovechkin with 11 seconds left while Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth was off for an extra skater.

Elsewhere: Eric Staal scored three goals for the host Carolina Hurricanes, who held on to beat the Anaheim Ducks, 4-2. . . . Eric Boulton scored three times for his first career NHL hat trick and the host Atlanta Thrashers routed the New Jersey Devils, 7-1. . . . Kyle Turris scored Phoenix's third goal of the shoot-out and the Coyotes rallied to beat the host New York Islanders, 4-3. . . . Steven Stamkos scored his 25th goal of the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres, 3-1. Tampa Bay also got a goal from Simon Gagne. . . . Rookie Logan Couture scored twice to lead the host San Jose Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. . . . Ryan Smyth scored twice and the Los Angeles Kings broke loose for four goals in the first period of a 6-1 rout of host Nashville, ending the Predators' five-game win streak.

Referee Chris Rooney waved off a Blue Jackets goal by Derek Dorsett in the second period, saying Columbus' Ethan Moreau interfered with Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen outside the crease. A crowd of 13,973 in Columbus booed the officials the rest of the night. It didn't work as Brad Richards scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the Blue Jackets, 2-1.

Don Fehr became the new executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association on Saturday after union members voted overwhelmingly to accept the executive board's endorsement. The 62-year-old Fehr is the former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. He held that post from 1983 until 2009.

The collective-bargaining agreement between the union and league is set to expire in September 2012.

- Associated Press