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NHL: Miller shutout helps Sabres cut down Devils

Kevin Weekes, right, of the New Jersey Devils makes a save against the Buffalo Sabres at the Prudential Center on Monday in Newark, New Jersey. PHOTO: AFP

Jason Pominville ended a 20-shot first-period barrage against Kevin Weekes with a power-play goal as the Buffalo Sabres beat New Jersey 2-0 on Monday in what was the Devils’ first game in a long while without Martin Brodeur starting in goal.

Ryan Miller had 24 saves in registering his second straight shutout, Jaroslav Spacek added two assists and Patrick Kaleta scored his first goal of the season as the Sabres won for the eighth time in 12 games (8-2-2). Buffalo was 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

The loss was the Devils’ fourth in five games and it spoiled an outstanding effort by Weekes in place of the injured Brodeur.

“Kevin [Weekes] played a great game and kept them in it early,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff told reporters. “Ryan really made some big saves later on and we were fortunate to come out of here with a win.”

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur suffered a bruised elbow on Saturday.

Brodeur’s absence on Monday marked the first time in 57 games dating to last season that he did not start. It also marked only the 21st time in his career that he did not dress for a game.

ISLANDERS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3, OT

At Uniondale, New York, Chris Campoli had his first two goals in nearly a year, the second coming 3:13 into overtime, and the New York Islanders overcame another blown three-goal lead in the third period to beat Columbus.

In a bizarre final sequence, the defenseman got to a loose puck after teammate Mike Comrie lost it in the Columbus zone and fired a shot past Fredrik Norrena.

Play continued as Campoli waved his arms to signal that he scored, but to no avail. He then took a pass in the slot and drilled another shot into the center of the net, setting off a wild celebration as New York snapped a 0-5-1 skid.

Campoli’s short-handed tally capped a second period in which the Islanders took a 3-0 lead, connecting three times within 11:07.

Richard Park and Bill Guerin had the other goals for New York, which entered with the fewest points in the NHL.

BLACKHAWKS 6, AVALANCHE 2

At Chicago, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd each had two goals and an assist, leading Chicago over Colorado for its third straight victory.

Troy Brouwer and Cam Barker also scored for the Blackhawks, unbeaten in regulation at home (5-0-2). Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin made 24 saves.

Ben Guite and Milan Hejduk scored for the Avalanche, who lost their fourth straight. Peter Budaj stopped 31 shots.
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