Maxim Afinogenov scored to spark a three-goal third period that lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
Chris Drury and Ales Kotalik had a goal and assist apiece, and Alexei Zhitnik also scored for the Sabres. Martin Biron stopped 29 shots to help Buffalo rally from a 1-0 deficit and win for just the sixth time this season.
"It's a win, that's all it is," Biron said. "You can play a great game and lose. To play a great game and win, that's what you've got to do in this league to be able to keep going."
PHOTO: REUTERS
Saku Koivu scored for the Canadiens, who have lost three straight for only the third time this season. It was also Montreal's sixth consecutive loss at Buffalo.
"The turning point was Martin Biron making the big saves," Julien said. "If we score on those, it's a different story."
Devils 4, Blue Jackets 3
In Columbus, Ohio, Grant Marshall scored in his first game against his former team and Patrik Elias added a goal and an assist in New Jersey's victory over Columbus.
Sergei Brylin added a goal, and Martin Brodeur stopped 28 shots as New Jersey won its third in a row. Brian Gionta also scored, into an empty net.
Rick Nash scored his NHL-leading 31st goal and added an assist for the Blue Jackets.
Brad Moran, called up from the minors earlier in the day, had the first goal and first assist of his NHL career.
Bruins 2, Islanders 2
In Uniondale, New York, P.J. Axelsson's goal with 1:57 left in regulation lifted Boston into a tie with New York.
Trent Hunter scored twice for the Islanders, and Rick DiPietro stopped 35 shots. It was the first time this season an Islanders home game reached overtime. New York moved five points ahead of both the New York Rangers and Atlanta for eighth place in the Eastern Conference -- the playoff cutoff.
Glen Murray also scored for the Bruins, and Felix Potvin turned aside 26 shots.
Hurricanes 2, Maple Leafs 0
In Toronto, Kevin Weekes made 32 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and Erik Cole scored a short-handed goal as Carolina beat Toronto.
Weekes has the second most shutouts in the NHL this season, four fewer than New Jersey's Martin Brodeur. Weekes, who has 19 career shutouts, is 17-7-7 this season and is the only goalie to win a game for the Hurricanes.
Josef Vasicek also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won just two of their last six games.
Lightning 6, Penguins 2
In Pittsburgh, Pavel Kubina scored two power-play goals 54 seconds apart, Cory Stillman added two goals during Tampa Bay's four-goal third period, and the Lightning ran Pittsburgh's home losing streak to a club-record eight games.
The game was the first in the NHL in more than two seasons with multiple penalty shots -- both unsuccessful. Penguins rookie Marc-Andre Fleury smothered Dan Boyle's shot, and Brian Holzinger shot high and wide.
The Penguins have been outscored 40-8 during their longest single-season home losing streak.
Fredrik Modin had a goal and two assists, and Brad Richards had three assists for the Lightning.
Avalanche 3, Oilers 1
In Denver, Peter Forsberg scored two goals for the second straight game since returning from a groin injury as Colorado beat Edmonton.
David Aebischer made 33 saves and recorded an assist on one of Forsberg's goals. Edmonton rookie goalie Ty Conklin had 19 saves.
Steve Konowalchuk had the other Colorado goal, and Radek Dvorak scored for Edmonton.
Colorado, the Western Conference points leader, is 12-1-1-1 in its last 15 games. Edmonton has lost three straight.
Flames 2, Coyotes 1
In Glendale, Arizona, Shean Donovan beat Sean Burke and Phoenix on a penalty shot with 2:08 remaining, the Calgary forward's second successful attempt of the season. Donovan was awarded the penalty shot after he was pulled down from behind by Phoenix defenseman Ossi Vaananen, who had slipped and lost the puck to the Calgary forward. Donovan, who has 16 goals this season, also scored on a penalty shot Dec. 2 against San Jose.
Jarome Iginla added his 19th goal to help Calgary beat Phoenix for the third straight time. Phoenix was held to a season-low 12 shots on goal, with only Daymond Langkow beating goalie Roman Turek.
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