Jonathan Bernier was solid with 21 saves in just his second start of the season for the Kings.

Brian Elliott has been in net the last four games of the Blues’ five-game losing streak, during which time they've allowed 26 goals. Elliott made 19 saves in a surprise start a day after Jaroslav Halak was activated from injured reserve. Halak apparently tweaked a groin strain, although the team had no comment on the switch.

Jeff Carter scored twice for the first time since the Stanley Cup clincher, helping the Los Angeles Kings keep the slumping Blues down with a 4-1 victory at St. Louis on Monday night.


Blue Jackets 6, Sharks 2 — Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist and host Columbus had its biggest offensive assault of the season against the NHL’s stingiest defense. San Jose has lost five in a row after a 7-0 start.

James Wisniewski and Nikita Nikitin added goals, Cody Goloubef picked up his first NHL goal, and Vinny Prospal and Mark Letestu tied a franchise record by scoring eight seconds apart in the third period. Nick Foligno and Matt Calvert each had two assists.

San Jose came in allowing an NHL-low 1.82 goals per game. Columbus was next-to-last in the 30-team league in scoring with just 1.92 goals a game.

Hurricanes 6, Islanders 4 — Alexander Semin netted his 200th goal and Jiri Tlusty scored twice and had two assists for visiting Carolina, which scored four third-period goals and overcame three deficits and a poor night of penalty killing to send the Islanders to their fifth straight loss.

Former Islander Tim Wallace and Jeff Skinner also scored for the Hurricanes, who are 3-1-1 on a trip that ends Tuesday at New Jersey. Staal also had an assist to extend his point streak to eight games. Cam Ward made 24 saves.


Maple Leafs 5, Flyers 2 — Colton Orr and Matt Frattin scored 28 seconds apart in the second period for host Toronto, which got its second victory in six games at home this season.

The win came at a cost. James Reimer stopped 12 shots before being replaced by Ben Scrivens early in the second period with what appeared to be a left leg injury. The Leafs described it as a ‘‘lower-body injury.’’

Wild 2, Flames 1 — Mikko Koivu scored the winner in the shootout as Minnesota got its first road victory of the season.

With each team having scored once in the shootout, Koivu sped in on Leland Irving and made a sharp move to his forehand to beat the Flames goaltender.

Coyotes 3, Avalanche 2 — Shane Doan scored his second goal of the game at 4:01 of overtime and Mike Smith stopped 41 shots, helping visiting Phoenix rally over slumping Colorado, which lost its third straight.