Eastern Conference leaders the Washington Capitals made it nine straight wins in the NHL with a 4-1 success over the Florida Panthers on Friday.

Mike Knuble scored twice for the Capitals, while Nicklas Backstrom and Jeff Schultz were also on target.

Steven Weiss briefly brought the Panthers level at 1-1 in the second period.

Travis Zajac scored in overtime to earn the New Jersey Devils a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Devils, for whom Zach Parise scored twice in the first period, led 4-2 going into the final period, but Toronto fought back with strikes from Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt Stajan to level.

James Wisniewski scored the equaliser in the second period and then the winner in the shootout as the Anaheim Ducks recorded a 2-1 success over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Two goals in the first period from Henrik Tallinder and Thomas Vanek were enough to give the Buffalo Sabres a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

Second-period goals from Nicklas Lidstrom and Drew Miller helped the Detroit Red Wings pull away from the Nashville Predators on their way to a 4-2 win.

The pair put the Wings, for whom goaltender Jimmy Howard stopped 46 out of 48 shots, 3-1 in front.

Mike Modano scored a brace to earn the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.