Avs Drop Rangers On Last Minute Goal – MLB Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — St. Louis Blues netminder Ryan Miller got reacquainted with his former Buffalo Sabres teammates on Thursday, but he didn't get a chance to face them. Instead, Ken Hitchcock went with Brian Elliott as the Blues beat the Sabres 2-1 to pad their lead in the NHL's Western Conference.

Elliott made 24 saves and blanked the Sabres until Cody Hodgson tallied with 56 seconds left. Brenden Morrow and Maxim Lapierre (lah-pee-EHR') did the scoring for the Blues, who picked up their team-record 52nd win and stretched their conference lead to three points over Anaheim.

San Jose is back within a point of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks after third-period goals by Brent Burns and Logan Couture (koo-TOOR') lifted the Sharks past Los Angeles 2-1. Antii Niemi (AN'-tee nee-EH'-mee) handled 26 shots and was perfect after Jordan Nolan scored 3:36 into the game.

Elsewhere on ice:

— Tyson Barrie was the star in Colorado's 3-2 win over the New York Rangers, tying the game with 52 seconds left in regulation before scoring the only shootout goal. The Avalanche retained their three-point lead over Chicago for second place in the Central Division, and the Rangers moved four points ahead of Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division.

— Sergei Bobrovsky (bah-BRAHF'-skee) stopped 37 shots as Columbus blanked the Flyers 2-0 in Philadelphia. James Wisniewski (wihz-NOO'-skee) scored the game-winner and had an assist for the Blue Jackets, who remain one point ahead of Toronto for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

— The Maple Leafs kept pace with Columbus as Nazem Kadri (NAH'-zehm KAH'-dree) scored at 2:51 of overtime to complete a 4-3 win over Boston. Cody Franzen and Phil Kessel each had two assists for the Maple Leafs, who blew a 3-1 lead in the third period before winning their second straight since an eight-game skid.

— Marian Hossa scored the lone shootout goal and Chicago stopped a three-game slide with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota. Bryan Bickell (BIK'-ul) and Ben Smith scored for the Blackhawks, and Corey Crawford turned back 25 shots.

— Sidney Crosby set up goals by Beau Bennett and Paul Martin as Pittsburgh doubled up Winnipeg 4-2. Marc-Andre Fleury faced just 15 shots, three in the final period.

— John-Michael Liles had a goal and two assists as Carolina topped Dallas 4-1, keeping Dallas in a virtual tie with Phoenix for the final Western Conference playoff berth. Anton Khudobin (kuh-DOH'-bihn) made 33 saves and allowed only Tyler Seguin's (SAY'-gihnz) 34th goal of the season.

— Mike Cammalleri and Kevin Westgarth scored 15 seconds apart in the third period before Curtis Glencross added a pair of goals in Calgary's 4-1 verdict over Tampa Bay. The Lightning remain in a virtual tie with Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division.