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Sabres' Briere fakes out Canadiens to clinch 3-1 victory

The Canucks' Todd Bertuzzi, left, Markus Naslund, center, and Daniel Sedin celebrate after scoring against the Sharks in Vancouver on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Daniel Briere scored his 25th goal by faking out a defenseman and then the goalie, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Wednesday.

Tim Connolly had a goal and assist and Maxim Afinogenov set up two goals for Buffalo (49-24-6), which tied a franchise record for victories set in 1974-75. Taylor Pyatt also scored and Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots -- including 15 in the final period -- in helping the playoff-bound Sabres inch closer to securing fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

With three games left, Buffalo moved seven points ahead of idle fifth-place Philadelphia.

Sheldon Souray scored for Montreal, which remains three points from clinching back-to-back postseason berths for the first time since 1997 and 1998. The Canadiens, coming off a 3-2 win over Ottawa on Monday, are now 1-2 in their last three games since winning eight straight.

Sharks 5, Canucks 4, OT

At Vancouver, Joe Thornton assisted on four goals, including Christian Ehrhoff's winner just 34 seconds into overtime, and San Jose earned a playoff spot with a victory over Vancouver.

Thornton also set up Scott Hannan's tying goal with 4:03 left in the third period. Despite the loss, Vancouver moved a point behind eighth-place Edmonton in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both teams have two games left, including a rematch between the Canucks and Sharks in San Jose yesterday.
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