Blackhawks go for NHL record

Marian Hossa has come up with a handful of big goals. Duncan Keith leads a group of solid defensemen, and each of the goalies has played really well.

This is the best start in the proud history of the Chicago Blackhawks, and it could become the NHL's best ever Friday when they host the San Jose Sharks.

The Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, in a shootout Tuesday to give them 16 straight games with at least one point, matching the league record to start a season.

It was the third straight win for the Blackhawks (13-0-3), who joined the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks as the only teams to record at least one point in the first 16 games of a season.

Sabres fire coach Lindy Ruff

Ron Rolston will finish out the season as the Buffalo Sabres' interim coach, taking over hours after Lindy Ruff was fired Wednesday amid growing criticism for the team's slow start.

Rolston was in his second season as coach of AHL Rochester, the Sabres' minor-league affiliate. Ruff was the franchise's winningest coach over 16 seasons.

The change comes a day after the Sabres were booed off the ice during a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg, and after Ruff had finished overseeing a 90-minute practice in preparation for Buffalo's game at Toronto on Thursday.

The Sabres (6-10-1) have gone 4-10-1 since opening the season by winning their first two games.

The Anaheim Ducks signed Viktor Fasth, 30, to a two-year, $5.8 million contract extension, rewarding the Swedish goalie for his 8-0-0 start to his first NHL season.