St Louis´ four can´t topple Tampa Bay

Martin St Louis' four goals proved not enough for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL, while Columbus made it six straight wins. Captain St Louis struck four times, but his Lightning were beaten 5-4 by the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Centre Joe Pavelski scored a hat-trick for the Sharks, while left wing Patrick Marleau contributed a goal and two assists. The four-goal haul was the first of St Louis' career and the first by a Lightning player since Chris Kontos in 1992. St Louis scored three times in a row from late in the first period to give his side a 4-2 lead before Pavelski responded. He scored three in a row – the last of which came with a minute remaining in the second period – to give the Sharks, who are second in the Pacific Division, their victory. The Blue Jackets clinched their sixth consecutive win with a 4-3 shootout win against the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Johansen scored the winner in the shootout for the Blue Jackets, who are fourth in the Metropolitan Division. The New York Rangers eased past the Ottawa Senators 4-1 and the Winnipeg Jets remain unbeaten under coach Paul Maurice after a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Andrej Meszaros' brace helped the Philadelphia Flyers past the New York Islanders 6-4 and Alexander Semin's two goals in the third period saw the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Florida Panthers 3-2. The Detroit Red Wings edged the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 and the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. The Vancouver Canucks claimed a 3-2 shootout win against the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild needed overtime to get past the Dallas Stars 3-2. Frederik Andersen stopped 34 shots to help the Anaheim Ducks defeat the St Louis Blues 3-2, the Colorado Avalanche were 5-4 victors over the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2.