This Penguin’s Goal-Scoring in Straka-sphere

Martin Straka has been with four teams in his seven-year NHL career, but finally seems to be living up to his potential in his second time around with the Penguins.

Straka scored a hat trick and moved into the top three in league goal-scoring as Pittsburgh beat the struggling Canadiens, 4-3, at Montreal on Saturday.

“I’ve never been in a streak like this before,” said Straka, a 26-year-old forward, who has 13 goals. “I’m feeling really confident, and just feeling really good. Now, I’m happy to get up in the morning and go to the rink every day and it seems right now that everything I shoot goes in.”

Straka erased a 1-0 deficit in the second period after a defensive lapse by the Canadiens in their own zone. Kevin Hatcher, at the point, shot toward the goal. Straka, wide open at the side of the net, gathered the loose puck with his skate before firing into an open net.

Straka, a former first-round draft pick, scored later in the period. He took a pass from newly-acquired Alexei Kovalev before beating goaltender Jose Theodore with a low slap shot just inside the post on the power play.

“He’s been our best forward for about a month now, or at least for the last three weeks,” Pittsburgh Coach Kevin Constantine said of Straka. “He’s having a heck of a first quarter of the season for us and we hope it keeps going.

“He’s had an opportunity to play with Jaromir [Jagr] and they’ve been able to get the job done for us.”

Florida 6, Buffalo 2--Rob Niedermayer scored twice and Ray Whitney hada goal and three assists as the Panthers chased two-time NHL MVP Dominik Hasek at home.

Scott Mellanby and Robert Svehla each had a goal and two assists as the Panthers had their highest output since a 5-5 tie Nov. 19 at Boston. Radek Dvorak had a short-handed goal.

Hasek, the two-time reigning Hart Trophy winner, was pulled by Buffalo Coach Lindy Ruff with the Sabres trailing 2-0 after the first period. He made 15 of 17 saves, including several key stops as the Panthers peppered him from the opening seconds.

St. Louis 4, Washington 2--Jamie McLennan stopped 32 shots and rookie Michal Handzus scored his first career goal to lead the Blues at St. Louis.

McLennan, playing in his 100th NHL game, is 4-3-0 since taking over for Grant Fuhr, who suffered a groin injury on Nov. 7.

The Blues are 3-2-1 in their last six games while the Capitals are 2-4 in their last six.

Toronto 3, Ottawa 2--Derek King’s second goal of the game, on a power play 42 seconds into overtime, gave the Maple Leafs a comeback victory, extending their home winning streak to six games.

“It’s almost like we’ve been playing playoff hockey lately,” King said. “This was a big character builder for us.”

Steve Thomas had the other goal for Toronto, which stopped the Senators’ winning streak at four games.

Alexei Yashin and Daniel Alfredsson scored for Ottawa, which was 8-1-1 when leading after the first period.

Thomas backhanded in a goal on a partial breakaway at 8:54 of the third period to tie the game 2-2.

Yashin and Alfredsson scored 50 seconds apart in the first period as the Senators opened the scoring for the 15th time in 20 games.

New Jersey 3, Colorado 2--Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots and Patrik Elias scored his first goal in 16 games and had an assist in the visiting Devils’ third straight victory over the Avalanche.

Brodeur, 10-1-3 lifetime against the Colorado-Quebec franchise, made several spectacular saves in continuing his mastery.

“I just go out and enjoy myself. We want to play well against the top team offensively,” said Brodeur.

“We get prepared for the Avalanche games. Maybe, it is because Claude Lemieux was with us.”

Bobby Holik had a goal and an assist and Jason Arnott a goal for the Devils, who haven’t lost two in a row since the first two games of the season.

Adam Deadmarsh and Claude Lemieux scored for the Avalanche, who haven’t beaten New Jersey since March 21, 1997.

Calgary 5, Chicago 4--Andrew Cassels scored two goals, including the game winner 1:47 apart in the second period, as the Flames beat the Blackhawks at Calgary, Canada.

It was 3-3 after one period, and goals by Cassels at 8:08 and 9:55 of the second put the Flames ahead to stay, ending their five-game losing streak.

Also scoring for the Flames were former Blackhawk Jeff Shantz, Cory Stillman and Theoren Fleury, who also had two assists.

Tony Amonte had three goals for Chicago to boost his league-leading total to 17, and Alexei Zhamnov added one.

The Blackhawks, after a 4-2-1 start to the season, have lost four straight and their only victory over the last 15 games was against the expansion Nashville Predators.

Amonte brought the Blackhawks within 5-4 at 1:32 of the third period with their third power-play goal.

Carolina 3, New York Islanders 1--Three games in four days took its toll on the Islanders, who sagged in the second period by allowing the Hurricanes three goals in a span of 4:19 at Uniondale, N.Y.