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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Dominik Hasek was pleased with his first
shutout, but managed to keep it all in perspective.
"It feels great to get a shutout," said Hasek, who stopped 22
shots in a 3-0 victory Thursday night over the New York Islanders.
"But it's only one game."
Maybe so, but it was the first shutout for the five-time Vezina
Trophy winner since he blanked New Jersey on April 6. The win also
evened Hasek's season record at 5-5. The shutout was the 46th of
Hasek's career, tying him with Ken Dryden for 20th on the NHL's
career list.
Alexei Zhitnik and Dave Andreychuk each had power-play goals for
the Sabres. Dennis Hamel scored the other Buffalo goal. Jason
Woolley and Maxim Afinogenov each had two assists.
The Islanders could only muster eight shots during the game's
first two periods. However, in the third period New York took 14
and had some very good scoring chances. Hasek stopped a breakaway
by Islanders forward Tim Connolly early in the third period and,
later, Hasek stopped two consecutive chances by New York forward
Tyler Pyatt from right in front.
"It's one of those games where we played pretty strong in front
of him for two periods and he comes back with a third period where
he shuts the door," Andreychuk said. "He stays into the game
mentally."
The Sabres staked Hasek to a two-goal lead after the first two
periods with goals by Zhitnik and Andreychuk. Zhitnik got the
Sabres -- playing their first game in five days -- started at 3:53
when his slap shot from just inside the blue line beat goalie John
Vanbiesbrouck.
With 1:15 left in the second, Andreychuk -- playing in his
1,300th career game -- put Buffalo up 2-0. Andreychuk gathered the
puck, whirled and flipped a shot past Vanbiesbrouck. The goal gave
Andreychuk 556 in his career, tying him with John Bucyk for 16th on
the NHL list.
The two power-play goals gave Buffalo 13 for the season in just
13 games. Last season it took the Sabres 26 games before they
scored 13.
Buffalo scored at least one man-advantage goal in six of seven
games. A 3-0 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday was the only
exception.
The Islanders came into Thursday's game tied with New Jersey for
first place in the Atlantic Division, but played like a last-place
team through the first 40 minutes.
"We didn't show up for two periods," New York coach Butch
Goring said. "It was a very poor effort."
The Sabres' 6-0-1 mark at HSBC Arena is the team's best home
start since it began the 1989-90 season 13-0-1 at the Memorial
Auditorium.
"I thought it was an all-around solid game," Buffalo coach
Lindy Ruff said. "We'd love to play that type of game on the
road."
Game notes
It was the first time the Islanders have been in first
place since Feb. 18, 1995. ... Andreychuk became the 26th player in
NHL history to play 1,300 career games. ... Sabres C Stu Barnes,
who sustained a groin injury in Buffalo's Nov. 3 game against
Montreal, missed his second consecutive game.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Islanders Clubhouse
Buffalo Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 2
Ottawa 1
Buffalo 3
NY Islanders 0
Columbus 5
San Jose 2
Philadelphia 2
Edmonton 0
NY Rangers 5
Washington 3
St. Louis 3
Colorado 3
Los Angeles 2
Vancouver 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mark Parrish shows Rob Ray the door.
avi: 444 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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