PITTSBURGH (AP) Stefan Noesen called his first NHL goal in nearly nine months luck.

Not really.

The veteran forward spent an uncertain offseason following an uneven tenure in New Jersey looking for a job before signing a minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yet rather than sulk about being forced to play in the American Hockey League after five seasons in the big time, Noesen went to work. He had 14 goals in 22 games, earning a call-up on Monday to help the injury ravaged Penguins.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) "Johnny for Norris" is all the Washington Capitals can say inside their dressing room about the outstanding play of defenseman John Carlson.

If Carlson can keep up the pace of his prolific point production, everyone will know that phrase by season's end.

TORONTO (AP) The Colorado Avalanche kept Toronto at bay and got some timely scoring to beat the struggling Maple Leafs.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, Valeri Nichushkin and Joonas Donskoi also scored, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 38 shots to help the Avalanche beat the Maple Leafs 3-1 Wednesday night.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The Ottawa Senators didn't have to wait long to make up for a tough loss one night earlier.

Tyler Ennis had a goal and two assists as the Senators beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Wednesday night.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) John Hynes paid the price for the New Jersey Devils failing to deliver on the high expectations created by having three No. 1 overall draft picks in the lineup.

Hynes was fired as coach Tuesday after a 9-13-4 start that left the team in last place in the Metropolitan Division and with the NHL's second-worst record.

BOSTON (AP) Jaroslav Halak celebrated his 500th career game with a shutout and the Boston Bruins extended their winning streak to eight in a row.

Halak stopped 24 shots for his second shutout of the season, and the Bruins scored twice late in the third period to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 Tuesday night.

TORONTO (AP) Former NHL forward Akim Aliu expects "big change" in hockey after a meeting with top league executives Tuesday.

Aliu met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly in Toronto to discuss his allegation that former Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters used a racial slur several times during the 2009-10 season while the two were with the Chicago Blackhawks' top minor league affiliate in Rockford, Illinois.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Jonathan Marchessault gave the Devils' day of change an all-too-familiar ending.

Marchessault scored three straight goals in the third period to rally the Vegas Golden Knights over New Jersey 4-3 Tuesday night, hours after the Devils fired coach John Hynes.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The Minnesota Wild had to come from behind to get another win and keep their point streak going.

Carson Soucy scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period to rally the Wild to a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Patrik Laine is growing fond of playing the Dallas Stars.

Kyle Connor had a goal and two assists, and Laine was one of four others with a goal and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets handed Dallas its fourth straight loss, 5-1 on Tuesday night.