Rookie's 4 points boost Sabres

As tall as he is, Tyler Myers' stock on the Buffalo Sabres grew even larger after the 6-foot-8 rookie defenseman produced a career-best performance.

Myers had a goal and three assists to spark the Sabres' sluggish offense in a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.

Aside from helping Buffalo score five goals for the first time in 18 games, the 20-year-old rookie of the year candidate helped the team regain the top spot in the Northeast Division.

Myers opened the scoring in the first minute with a shot that deflected in off of three bodies. He then played a role in securing the victory, getting an assist on Thomas Vanek's goal that broke a 3-3 tie midway through the second.

For Myers, who leads Buffalo defensemen with 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists), all that mattered was helping his team extend its winning streak to three -- the Sabres' longest since a six-gamer ended in early January.

"We don't want to stop there, we want to make it four," Myers said. "It's always nice to have a breakout game like that when you get that many goals."

Buffalo (36-20-9) is two points ahead of the idle Ottawa Senators in the Northeast.

Jamie Benn had a goal and assist, and Steve Ott and Toby Petersen also scored for the Stars, 1-4 in their past five games.

ALSO WEDNESDAY

Devils 6, Rangers 3: Rob Niedermayer, Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rolston had a goal and assist each and New Jersey returned home from a difficult post-Olympics trip to beat New York.

New Jersey lost to the Calgary Flames and was shut out by the cellar-dwelling Edmonton Oilers after opening the trip with a win over the San Jose Sharks. That prompted a team meeting Tuesday that seemed to pay immediate dividends.

The Devils matched a season high in goals and never trailed in winning for the fourth time in 12 games (4-7-1).

Blackhawks 3, Kings 2 (OT): Patrick Sharp scored his second goal of the game 2:08 into overtime to give host Chicago a victory against Los Angeles.

Dave Bolland picked off an errant pass by the Kings' Brad Richardson at center ice and made a long pass to Sharp, who skated in and beat goalie Jonathan Quick, who had 40 saves.

Late Tuesday

Blue Jackets 5, Ducks 2: Jakub Voracek scored during Columbus' first power play and set up an second-period goal by Fedor Tyutin to lead a victory over host Anaheim.

Canucks 6, Avalanche 4: Jannik Hansen scored the decisive goal with 2:08 remaining, Mikael Samuelsson had his first NHL hat trick, and host Vancouver rallied to beat Colorado.

Senators 4, Oilers 1: Chris Kelly had a goal and an assist, and Matt Cullen, Milan Michalek and Mike Fisher also scored for Ottawa, which ended a three-game slide by beating host Edmonton.

Note

Thrashers call up Chelios: The Atlanta Thrashers have a newcomer - 48-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios, an 11-time All-Star.

Chelios has played in more games than any other American-born NHL player, and he joins the Thrashers after getting five goals and 17 assists in 46 games with Chicago of the AHL. The team recalled Chelios on Wednesday.

The Thrashers are looking for Chelios to provide a spark and help snap a three-game losing streak. Atlanta plays visits the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.

Chelios has played 25 NHL seasons, winning three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies as the league's top defenseman.

Only Gordie Howe, who played at 52, was older.

Sedins help children: Vancouver Canucks stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin have donated $1.5 million to help build a new BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver.

The Swedish twins have played for the club for a decade.