Petr Prucha returned from exile to score his first goal of the season late in the third period and the New York Rangers went on to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout Wednesday night.

Two nights after getting embarrassed, Minnesota got back to its kind of hockey with strong defense and an opportunistic offense.

Jonathan Toews broke a tie with 1:35 left in regulation in the Chicago Blackhawks' 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

Coming off a career-worst performance in his last outing, Niklas Backstrom turned aside all 22 shots he faced to record his third shutout of the season, as the Minnesota Wild blanked the St. Louis Blues, 4-0, at the Xcel Energy Center.

Nikolai Zherdev netted the game-winner in the shootout, as the New York Rangers edged Pittsburgh, 3-2, at Madison Square Garden.

Dany Heatley registered a goal and two assists, as the Ottawa Senators pounded the Atlanta Thrashers, 5-1, at Scotiabank Place.

Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery issued an apology Wednesday for derogatory comments made the previous day about his ex-girlfriends dating other players in the league.

Peter Laviolette won more games than any American-born coach in NHL history. But he didn't win enough of them lately to keep his job with the Carolina Hurricanes, so they replaced him with their winningest coach - the same one Laviolette himself replaced five years earlier.

Joe Sakic thought long and hard about returning for a 20th NHL season after missing 38 games following hernia surgery last year.

The Phoenix Coyotes have acquired forward Joakim Lindstrom from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Logan Stephenson.

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic will miss at least the next six weeks while receiving treatment for a herniated disc in his back.

The Carolina Hurricanes have decided to make a coaching change and will reportedly replace Peter Laviolette with his predecessor, Paul Maurice.

Having won back-to-back games for the first time this season, the Dallas Stars will try for three straight victories when they visit the struggling Edmonton Oilers for tonight's matchup at Rexall Place.

The Minnesota Wild continue a three-game homestand tonight with a visit by the St. Louis Blues to Xcel Energy Center.

The top two teams in the Atlantic Division square off tonight, as the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden.

The Chicago Blackhawks will try to avoid a fourth consecutive loss this evening when they welcome the Anaheim Ducks for a battle at the United Center.

A pair of struggling teams will meet tonight in Canada's capital city, as the Ottawa Senators welcome the Atlanta Thrashers for a matchup at Scotiabank Place.

Joe Thornton registered a goal and three assists to lead San Jose to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Shark Tank.

Fabian Brunnstrom's second-period tally proved to be the game-winner, as the Dallas Stars defeated the Calgary Flames, 3-1, at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Enver Lisin scored twice in the third period to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has summoned Sean Avery to New York for a hearing Thursday on remarks that resulted in the indefinite suspension of the Dallas Stars' instigator.

Mike Richards scored two goals, including the winner 2:05 into overtime, and the Philadelphia Flyers sent the Tampa Bay Lightning to their fifth straight loss with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night.

Andrei Kostitsyn scored with 5:11 remaining and the Montreal Canadiens recovered from blowing a three-goal lead earlier in the third period to beat the Atlanta Thrashers 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Enver Lisin scored twice in a four-minute span of the third period to lift the Phoenix Coyotes over the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Tuesday night.