Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Chris Campoli had a hat trick unlike any other.

Looking for an opening: Colorado's Wojtek Wolski controls the puck in front of Chicago's Colin Fraser in first-period action on Monday night. The Blackhawks won 6-2. AP PHOTO

The defenseman, derailed by shoulder injuries in consecutive seasons, scored his first two goals in nearly a year. The second hit the net 3:13 into overtime, and the New York Islanders overcame another blown three-goal lead in the third period to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Monday night.

In a wacky final sequence, the defenseman got to a loose puck after teammate Mike Comrie lost it in the Columbus zone and fired a shot past Fredrik Norrena. Play continued as Campoli celebrated prematurely and then waved his arms to signal that he scored, to no avail. He then took a pass in the slot and drilled another shot into the center of the net.

After further review, Campoli was proven right. His initial shot went in. He put three pucks in and got credit for two.

"I saw it go inside the post," said Campoli, who missed a chunk of last season and the first five games of this one. "It was a bizarre play that it came back to me and I put it in again. Everyone's joking that I had a hat trick. I would take one, don't get me wrong. Nothing surprises us any more."

A wild celebration ensued as New York snapped an 0-5-1 skid following a 2-2 start.

Campoli's short-handed tally capped a second period in which the Islanders took a 3-0 lead, connecting three times within 11:07.

Richard Park and Bill Guerin had the other goals for New York, which is tied with Los Angeles for the fewest points in the NHL (seven).

The Blue Jackets came away with a point after a furious third period in which they erased a 3-0 deficit. R.J. Umberger scored Columbus' final two goals after defenseman Marc Methot started the comeback.

"The biggest thing we did was outwork them," captain Rick Nash said. "It showed we have a lot of character and we don't give up."

Columbus, the last-place team in the Central Division, is 1-3-2 in its last six.

Sabres 2, Devils 0

In Newark, N.J., Jason Pominville ended a 20-shot first-period barrage against Kevin Weekes with a power-play goal and Buffalo beat New Jersey in what was the Devils' first game in a long while without Martin Brodeur starting in goal.

Ryan Miller had 24 saves in registering his second straight shutout, Jaroslav Spacek added two assists and Patrick Kaleta scored his first goal of the season as the Sabres won for the eighth time in 12 games (8-2-2).

Buffalo was 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

The loss was the Devils' fourth in five games and it spoiled an outstanding effort by Weekes in place of the injured Brodeur.

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur suffered a bruised elbow on Saturday.

Brodeur's absence Monday marked the first time in 57 games dating to last season that he did not start. It also marked only the 21st time in his career that he did not dress for a game.

Blackhawks 6, Avalanche 2

In Chicago, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd each had two goals and an assist, leading the Blackhawks over Colorado for their third straight victory.

Troy Brouwer and Cam Barker also scored for Chicago, unbeaten in regulation at home (5-0-2). Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin made 24 saves.

Ben Guite and Milan Hejduk scored for the Avalanche, who lost their fourth straight. Peter Budaj stopped 31 shots.

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