BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Derek Roy had two goals and an assist,
giving new life to the Buffalo Sabres' playoff hopes in a 7-1 win
over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
The Sabres scored four goals on their first seven shots,
snapping a four-game skid (0-2-2) and creeping within two points of
eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Hurricanes had a five-game win streak snapped, and had their
lead atop the Southeast Division cut to five points after both
Washington and Florida won Friday.
Adam Mair had a goal, two assists and a fight in a
penalty-filled game. Daniel Paille, Paul Gaustad, Ales Kotalik and
Patrick Kaleta also scored in a blowout reminiscent of the Sabres'
8-1 win over Carolina at Buffalo on Dec. 1.
Buffalo bounced back from a 7-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday,
and overcame playing without three regular defensemen, including
Jaroslav Spacek, out indefinitely with bruised ribs.
Scott Walker spoiled Ryan Miller's shutout bid, scoring a
short-handed goal on an odd-man rush with 8:30 left. Miller made 27
saves, and eased the memories of being pulled after allowing six
goals against the Penguins.
The Hurricanes were first undone by numerous defensive miscues,
providing little help to Cam Ward, and then lost their cool. They
were given 20 penalties totaling 81 minutes. Ward made three saves
and was pulled after Gaustad shoveled in a loose puck in front to
put Buffalo ahead 4-0 before 14 minutes elapsed.
John Grahame took over and allowed three goals on 24 shots.
Paille, coming off a two-goal game, opened the scoring 4:44 in
when he fanned on his first attempt in the slot, but had time to
reload to snap the puck past Ward. Mair scored 22 seconds later.
Roy, with a short-handed goal, and Gaustad scored 3 minutes apart
to produce Buffalo's eighth four-goal period of the season.