National Hockey

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first NHL team with 20 wins by defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night.

ST. LOUIS — Jake Allen finally closed out a shutout Thursday night. Allen posted his first zero of the season with 29 saves, helping the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-0.

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers lost another key player in a win Thursday night. Micheal Haley scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and the Panthers overcame an injury to Aleksander Barkov to beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-4.

BOSTON — David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Boston Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 on Thursday night. It was Backes' fourth game back after he missed 12 straight following surgery to remove part of his colon.

MONTREAL — Missing Matthew Tkachuk to a suspension and having a back-up goalie in net wasn't going to stop the Calgary Flames.

PITTSBURGH — Penguins defenceman Matt Hunwick made a decision to gamble in overtime. Hunwick jumped up to join the play and created an odd-man situation for Pittsburgh that led to the winning goal.

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos broke of a mini-slump on his way to the top of the NHL points list.

ST. LOUIS — A vending machine worker in St. Louis dressed as the Blues emergency goalie Thursday night.

MANALAPAN, Fla. — The NHL is opening its doors to Seattle.

MANALAPAN, Fla. — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league's board of governors agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle.