Published: April 01, 2008 11:09 pm            

SABRES: Buffalo still crashing the party after 4-3 win

TORONTO — Maxim Afinogenov scored the winning goal in the shootout, lifting Buffalo to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night and preserving the Sabres’ slim playoff hopes.

Buffalo is now three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins. The Sabres have two games remaining — at Montreal on Thursday and at Boston on Saturday.

Afinogenov, in the sixth round of the shootout, faked right and shot left against Toronto goalie Andrew Raycroft.

Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek tied the game at 3 with 5:21 remaining in regulation, tipping in a shot while screening Raycroft.

Alex Steen had given Toronto a 3-2 lead less than 3 minutes earlier, wristing a shot from the slot past the right leg of Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller.

Darcy Tucker had a goal and an assist, and Tomas Kaberle also scored for Toronto. Raycroft, making his first appearance since Feb. 5 and first start since Jan. 20, made 38 saves.

Derek Roy and Steve Bernier also scored for Buffalo, while Miller stopped 19 shots. Roy extended his point streak to a career-high 10 games.

Buffalo, the defending Presidents’ Trophy winner, is looking to avoid becoming the third team in the NHL expansion era in 1967-68 to miss the playoffs after topping the league regular-season standings the previous season. Only the New York Rangers in 1992-93 and Montreal in 1969-70 have done that.

Tucker opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the game, tapping in a rebound after Miller stopped an initial shot by Pavel Kubina.

Kaberle netted a power-play goal with less than a minute to go in the opening period. He faked Miller on the left side of the net, then skated behind to attempt a wraparound. Miller was unable to get up and Kaberle bounced the puck off the prone goalie.

Roy scored his 32nd 4 minutes into the second period, shoveling in a rebound. Midway through the third, Bernier banged in a rebound while being forced into a collision with Raycroft.

Notes: Toronto played without C Mats Sundin and RW Nik Antropov. Each had played the previous two games, but Sundin’s groin injury flared again, and Antropov (knee) was scratched after the pregame skate. ... Maple Leafs C Kyle Wellwood missed his second straight game, and will have surgery for a sports hernia on Wednesday. ... Miller has allowed four first-minute goals this season, tying him with Columbus’ Pascal Leclaire for most allowed in the league. Buffalo is the only team in the NHL to allow five goals in the opening minute. ...Kubina extended his point streak to a career-high seven games. ... Roy’s 10-game point streak tied Jason Pominville for the longest by a Sabres player this season.

        

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