By The Associated Press

MONTREAL – Saku Koivu scored his first goal in more than two months to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.

Koivu, who extended his points streak to five games earlier in the game, broke in alone on Olaf Kolzig and put a backhand past the Washington goalie with 57.4 remaining in overtime to end his 23-game goal drought. Koivu hadn’t found the back of the net since Jan. 28, when he scored twice – including the overtime winner – in a 4-3 victory in Toronto.

Washington center Jeff Halpern scored a power-play goal with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it after he was involved in an odd play off a faceoff that led to Montreal taking a 2-1 earlier in the third.

Devils 3, Sabres 1

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Brian Gionta scored his team-leading 41st goal, Martin Brodeur reached a milestone and the New Jersey Devils beat Buffalo 3-1 on Thursday night to move a step closer to securing an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

New Jersey remained tied with Tampa Bay and Montreal for sixth place with 83 points, and all three moved seven points ahead of ninth-place Atlanta. On Thursday night, Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 4-3 and Montreal edged Washington 3-2 in overtime. Brodeur stopped 29 shots to tie Jacques Plante for fourth place on the NHL’s career victory list with 437.

Lightning 4, Thrashers 3

TAMPA, Fla. – Dmitry Afanasenkov scored two goals to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Thursday night.

With the victory, Tampa Bay remained tied with New Jersey and Montreal for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 83 points, and all three moved seven points ahead of ninth-place Atlanta. On Thursday night, New Jersey beat Buffalo 3-1 and Montreal edged Washington 3-2 in overtime.

Tim Taylor and Paul Ranger also scored for the Lightning. Taylor snapped a 28-game goal-scoring drought, and Ranger’s goal was the first of his 67-game NHL career.

Senators 4, Rangers 1

OTTAWA – Ray Emery made 24 saves and the Ottawa Senators overcame the absence of three top defensemen to beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Thursday night.

The Eastern Conference-leading Senators played without defensive partners Zdeno Chara (hand) and Chris Phillips (knee), and Wade Redden missed the game to travel to Saskatchewan on Thursday to be with his ailing mother.

Chris Neil, Patrick Eaves, Dany Heatley and Peter Schaefer scored for the Senators.

Red Wings 4, Predators 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Brendan Shanahan and Jason Williams each had a goal and an assist in the third period to help the NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Thursday night.

Tomas Holstrom and Kris Draper also scored, Steve Yzerman assisted on the two third-period goals and Manny Legace made 32 saves.

Mike Sillinger and Scott Hartnell scored for the Predators. The loss was Nashville’s fourth straight and also ended a six-game home winning streak. The Predators’ last loss at home was Feb. 9 against Detroit.

Holstrom tied it at 2 on a power play with 35 seconds left in the period, deflecting the puck past Tomas Vokoun.

NBA

Suns 114, Pacers 104

INDIANAPOLIS – Shawn Marion scored 29 points, Steve Nash nearly had a triple-double, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Indiana Pacers 114-104 Thursday night to snap a two-game losing streak.

Nash finished with 15 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds.

Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points and reserve Danny Granger added 16 for the Pacers, who were again without Jermaine O’Neal to start the game and watched their injury woes grow during it.

The Pacers played uninspired basketball despite watching Reggie Miller’s jersey retirement ceremony at halftime. Indiana (35-36) has lost six of its last eight games and dropped below .500 for just the second time this season. Phoenix (48-23) bounced back from back-to-back blowout defeats. The Suns lost 110-72 at New Jersey on Monday and 132-110 at Milwaukee on Tuesday.

O’Neal was inactive after aggravating his groin injury earlier in the week. Stephen Jackson sprained his ankle in the second quarter and did not return, and center Scot Pollard missed the second half with a sore foot.