Sport-scan daily brief

The Sabres took the lead only 4:22 into the game by capitalizing on a turnover by Devils defenseman Andy Greene with Patrick Kaleta’s redirection goal.

The Devils tied it with Steve Sullivan’s power-play goal with 1:40 left in the opening period. Patrik Elias lost the right-circle faceoff to Steve Ott to begin the power play, but Steve Bernier intercepted defenseman Tyler Myers’ pass behind the net and threw it in front to Sullivan, who redirected it past goaltender Ryan Miller for his first goal since being reacquired in Wednesday’s trade with Phoenix.

It was also his first goal as a Devil since Feb. 15, 1997 at Montreal. He was traded to Toronto 10 days later.

Although the Devils dominated play territorially after that, the Sabres retook the lead on Ott’s goal 13:44 into the second. Ott cut between the circles to take a pass from Cody Hodgson in the left circle and ripped a shot over Brodeur, who tried to kick up his stacked pads.

Defenseman Mark Fayne’s short-handed goal pulled the Devils even again 5:46 into the third. Dainius Zubrus set it up with a great effort on the rush, circling behind the net with the puck and feeding a trailing Fayne, who let go a wrist shot from the high slot that beat Miller over the right shoulder.

“I had good legs and I knew that we were a goal behind, so I just tried to make a play and it turned out pretty good,” Zubrus said.

Bergen Record LOADED: 04.08.2013

668811 New Jersey Devils

NJ Devils fall to Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, in shootout as Ryan Miller stops 37 shots

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sunday, April 7, 2013, 10:37 PM

BUFFALO — With each win, there is a growing sense in Buffalo that the Sabres just might be capable of mounting a late-season playoff push. It is a much different mood for Martin Brodeur and the slumping New Jersey Devils.

Their worry grew deeper Sunday night after their skid reached seven games with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Sabres.

“It’s really concerning that we can’t just win. That’s the bottom line,” the Devils goalie said. “We played one of the teams that we should beat, and I thought we deserved to beat them the way we played.”

The Devils lost to Buffalo despite outshooting the Sabres 37-22 and outplaying them for numerous long stretches. New Jersey (15-14-10) dropped to 0-3-4 in its past seven. It is the Devils’ longest winless streak since going 0-4-2-1 from Nov. 10-23, 2001.

This skid has coincided with the absence of top forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed his seventh game because of a shoulder injury. New Jersey earned one point Sunday to move into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, but the loss clinched a playoff spot for the conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sabres (16-17-6), meanwhile, are showing signs of resilience.

With 38 points they have jumped into 11th place after winning their third in a row during a week in which the team began rebuilding by trading away three veterans, including captain Jason Pominville. Nathan Gerbe scored the lone shootout goal, and Buffalo’s Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots through overtime, and three more in the shootout — including a victory-clinching glove save on Travis Zajac. “We survived and got two points. Not pretty, but it’s two,” Miller said. “When you win hockey games, there’s a certain belief.

And we’re just trying to do it one game at a time.” Steve Ott extended his goal streak to three games, and Patrick Kaleta also scored for Buffalo. Kaleta opened the scoring with his first goal in 53 games, and first point in 40, dating to March 7, 2012.

“We’re a resilient group,” said Kaleta, who also provided several big hits, including one that leveled Zajac in the final seconds of the second period. “We’re taking it game by game right now. It’s a whole new season.”

Gerbe scored on the Sabres’ second shootout attempt by snapping a shot that beat Brodeur low on the glove side. Miller made his best stop on the Devils’ next attempt when he kicked out his right pad at the last moment to stop Patrik Elias.

Miller opened the shootout by stopping Steve Sullivan’s back-hander. Sullivan and Mark Fayne, who forced overtime with a short-handed goal 5:46 into the third period, scored for the offensively challenged Devils. They have combined for just six goals in five games, and have produced three or more just twice in their past 12.

“I can see how it can be frustrating when you’re getting that many scoring chances and not being able to grab a lead and play with some comfort,” said Sullivan, who was reacquired by the Devils last week in a trade with Phoenix.

“It’s got to turn soon. We’re running out of time here, so we’ve got to start burying pucks.”

Help might be on the way.

Before the game, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said “it won’t be long” before Kovalchuk resumes skating.

The Sabres overcame their own issues on Sunday, and a booing home crowd. Buffalo was having such a tough time controlling the puck in the second period that fans began cheering whenever the Sabres got the puck past their blue line. Held to four shots in the first period, the Sabres were outshot 18-8 through 32 minutes. The momentum shifted after Buffalo’s John Scott leveled David Clarkson with a hit at the right circle.

Buffalo managed six shots over the next two minutes, including Ott’s goal that put Buffalo ahead 2-1.

Fayne tied it with the Devils’ NHL-leading 10th short-handed goal. He was set up in the high slot by Dainius Zubrus, who was allowed to roam free in the Sabres end.

“Frustrating, you know,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. “We generated chances and shots and opportunities, but we just aren’t finishing like we need to.”

NOTES: The Sabres have allowed a league-high seven short-handed goals. ... Sabres RW Thomas Vanek missed his sixth straight game with an upper body injury. ... Fayne’s goal was the ninth of his career and first in 49 games. ... Of Kaleta’s 27 career goals, four have come against New Jersey, his most against any team.

New York Daily News LOADED: 04.08.2013

668812 New Jersey Devils

Devs’ hopes dim as winless streak hits 7

By JOHN WAWROW

Associated Press

Last Updated: 4:36 AM, April 8, 2013

Posted: 1:40 AM, April 8, 2013

BUFFALO — With each win, there is a growing sense in this town that the Sabres just might be capable of mounting a late-season playoff push.

It is a much different mood for Martin Brodeur and the slumping Devils. Their worry grew deeper last night after their skid reached seven games with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Sabres.

“It’s really concerning that we can’t just win. That’s the bottom line,” the Devils goalie said. “We played one of the teams that we should beat, and I thought we deserved to beat them the way we played.”

The Devils lost to Buffalo despite outshooting the Sabres 37-22 and outplaying them for numerous long stretches.

The Devils (15-14-10) dropped to 0-3-4 in their past seven, their longest winless streak since going 0-4-2-1 from Nov. 10-23, 2001. This skid has coincided with the absence of top forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed his seventh game because of a shoulder injury.

The Devils earned one point to move into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, but the loss clinched a playoff spot for the conference-leading Penguins.

The Sabres (16-17-6), meanwhile, are showing signs of resilience.

With 38 points they have jumped into 11th place after winning their third in a row during a week in which the team began rebuilding by trading away three veterans, including captain Jason Pominville.

Nathan Gerbe scored the lone shootout goal, and Buffalo’s Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots through overtime, and three more in the shootout — including a victory-clinching glove save on Travis Zajac.

New York Post LOADED: 04.08.2013

668813 New Jersey Devils

Devils' woes continue as team fall to Sabres

Associated Press

Last Updated: 10:50 PM, April 7, 2013

Posted: 10:45 PM, April 7, 2013

BUFFALO — Nathan Gerbe scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 victory Sunday night over New Jersey that extended the Devils' losing streak to seven games.

Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots through overtime, and all three shootout attempts — included a victory-clinching glove save on Travis Zajac.

Steve Ott extended his goal streak to three games, and Patrick Kaleta also scored for Buffalo, which won its third straight.

Steve Sullivan and Mark Fayne, who forced overtime with a short-handed goal, scored for the Devils, who are 0-3-4 in their past seven. That is their longest winless streak since going 0-4-2-1 from Nov. 10-23, 2001.

The Devils' loss clinched a playoff spot for the Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins and the West-leading Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday became the first teams to secure berths.

New Jersey (15-14-10), 1-5-6 in its past 12 road games, is 6-12-7 following a 9-2-3 start. The Devils haven't won since star forward Ilya Kovalchuk injured a shoulder.

The Sabres (16-17-6) jumped ahead of idle Philadelphia and into 11th place in the East, two points behind the ninth-place Devils.

Gerbe scored on the Sabres' second shootout attempt by snapping a shot that beat Martin Brodeur low on the glove side. Miller made his best stop on the Devils' next attempt when he kicked out his right pad at the last moment to stop Patrik Elias.

Brodeur finished with 24 saves, including stopping all four shots he faced in overtime. His best stop came with 70 seconds left in the extra frame, when he held his ground and protected the right side to foil Drew Stafford, who was driving in on a 2-on-1 break.

New Jersey's skid has coincided with the absence of forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed his seventh game with a shoulder injury. Before the game, general manager Lou Lamoriello said "it won't be long" before Kovalchuk resumes skating.

Fayne tied it at 2 at 5:46 of the third period while the Devils were killing a penalty. Dainius Zubrus did much of the work by being allowed to lug the puck untouched into the Sabres end. He circled behind the Buffalo net and fed a pass into a the high slot to Fayne, who snapped in his first goal in 49 games.

The Sabres experienced considerable difficulty getting the puck out of their zone. The Devils were beating the Sabres to loose pucks, and were pinching in their defensemen to deny the Sabres from clearing passes.

Buffalo was having such a tough time controlling the puck in the second period that fans began cheering whenever the Sabres got the puck past their blue line.

Held to four shots in the first period, the Sabres were outshot 18-8 through 32 minutes. The momentum shifted after Buffalo's John Scott leveled David Clarkson with a hit at the right circle.

Buffalo managed six shots over the next two minutes, including Ott's go-ahead goal to cap a tic-tac-toe play.

The goal came on the ensuing rush after Miller got his paddle down to stop Steve Bernier, who was set up alone in front after defenseman Tyler Myers turned the puck over in his own corner.

Kaleta opened the scoring 4:22 in off of defenseman Andy Greene's turnover in his zone. It was Kaleta's first goal in 54 games and first point in 40, dating to March 7, 2012.

The Devils capitalized on their first power play with 1:40 left in the first period. Myers' weak clearing attempt behind his net was picked off by Bernier, who set up Sullivan in front.

The goal came a half-minute after Sullivan was set up for a one-timer in the left circle, but his shot went just wide. His goal was his first in two games since returning to New Jersey, after being acquired in a trade with Phoenix on Wednesday.

NOTES: The Sabres have allowed a league-high seven short-handed goals. The Devils have scored a league-best 10. ... Devils D Henrik Tallinder and LW Alexei Ponikarovsky were healthy scratches. ... Sabres RW Thomas Vanek missed his sixth straight game with an upper body injury. ... The Devils entered the game having scored three or more goals only twice in 11. ... Of Kaleta's 27 career goals, four have come against New Jersey, his most against any team.

New York Post LOADED: 04.08.2013

668814 New York Islanders

Islanders' confidence builds during strong playoff run

By ARTHUR STAPLE

Originally published: April 7, 2013 8:50 PM

Updated: April 8, 2013 12:10 AM

Kyle Okposo admitted that it's hard not to watch the scoreboard, even after another strong performance by the Islanders on Saturday night.

"You're going to look," Okposo said after the Islanders' 4-2 win over the Lightning propelled his team to a 6-1-1 record in its last eight games and maintained the Isles' place among the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. "When you're in the race, you definitely look. But we have a different feeling this year; we know if we play the way we need to play and win our games, we won't have to worry about what the other teams do."

That is a very different development for the Islanders, who have needed wins and an immense amount of help in the final months of recent seasons, only to fall short.

They also are playing differently. There is the appropriate level of desperation, accompanied by a confidence that has carried from period to period, through some strong shifts and shaky ones. It has allowed the Islanders to bounce back the way they did Saturday, when they lost a one-goal lead early in the third but pushed back for the win.

But even with this run that has put the Islanders in good position for their first playoff berth in six seasons, they still are in eighth, left to watch that scoreboard on nights like Sunday night. The Senators, two points ahead of the Islanders, lost to Florida. The Capitals beat Tampa Bay to draw even with the Islanders and lead the Southeast Division.

The Rangers, tied with the Islanders at 42 points but with one fewer game played, will play Monday in Toronto. The Islanders are idle until Tuesday, when the Flyers come to the Coliseum.

It may be hard for the players to avoid watching the scoreboard and checking the standings, but not their coach.

"Not too much," Jack Capuano said of his scoreboard-watching tendencies. "We can only control what we can control. I've preached it all along; I say it to my children, to the players. There's controllable and uncontrollable circumstances, and we need to focus on what we control, and that's how we play."

Notes & quotes: Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic, who were minus-14 and 15 at one point, are a plus-10 and plus-8 during the Islanders' 6-1-1 streak. The Isles have allowed only 13 goals in those eight games.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.08.2013

668815 New York Rangers

Kadri at Center of Maple Leafs’ Turnaround

By DHIREN MAHIBAN

Published: April 7, 2013

TORONTO — It has been a season of redemption for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Nazem Kadri.

Nazem Kadri was drafted seventh over all by the Leafs in 2009.

Once frozen out of the Leafs’ lineup, Kadri, a 6-foot, 188-pound center, now ranks among the league leaders in goals (17), points (39) and plus/minus rating (plus 18). Entering Monday’s game against the Rangers, he leads the Maple Leafs in every offensive category but assists through 38 games.

In September, however, the 22-year-old Kadri was criticized by the organization when his body fat level ranked in the bottom five among skaters participating in the camp of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

At the time, Marlies Coach Dallas Eakins said Kadri needed to improve his eating habits.

“He came in to this season, I don’t think, as prepared as he would’ve liked,” Maple Leafs General Manager Dave Nonis said. “But to his credit, he put a lot of work in with the Marlies early on and he got himself ready to play. His consistency level has been much, much better.”

The criticism is nothing new for Kadri, who was once shown in an illustration on the sports page of a Toronto newspaper with a pacifier in his mouth.

“It’s always nice to kind of put some feet in some people’s mouths,” he said. “I always had a lot to prove, not only to myself but to everyone else in this city and this league. I think I’ve come a long way, and I don’t plan on looking back any time soon.”

Kadri was drafted seventh over all by the Leafs in 2009. Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn, who was a first-round pick of the Leafs in 2008, knows the pressures of being in that position in Toronto.

“I just think he needed the opportunity,” Schenn said, adding, “Sometimes patience is a big thing, too, but he’s always been one of the most skilled guys I’ve ever played with.”

That opportunity did not come until a coaching change in March 2012, when Randy Carlyle replaced Ron Wilson. In 51 N.H.L. games before this season, Kadri had only 8 goals and 19 points. Kadri acknowledged that Carlyle allowed him a little more freedom on the ice.

“I didn’t really get much of an opportunity before, so I really wouldn’t know what that felt like,” he said.

Cody Franson, 25, spent time in Wilson’s doghouse last season as well, and he said a player’s age and inexperience were often immaterial to Toronto’s demanding fans. That has changed as the Maple Leafs have risen to fifth place in the East this season, poised to earn their first playoff berth since 2004.

“That’s part of the tough part about Toronto: everything’s under a microscope here, and when you’re young like that, sometimes you forget that a little bit, I guess,” he said. “But Naz has done a very good job. He’s learned from what he’s done along the way.”

Despite Kadri’s success, Carlyle and Nonis have been quick to temper expectations for Kadri, a player his teammates call the Dream.

“I love the way Naz’s played,” Nonis said. “Everybody does. I’d love to put the brakes on the ‘Here comes the 100 points.’ ”

Carlyle, responding to leading questions about Kadri from local reporters, said, “You guys just want to anoint him, don’t you?” But he added, “He’s a great young player, and he’s got a skill set that separates him from people.”

Kadri said: “They just want to make sure I’m not getting too high when things are good and not get too low when things are bad. That’s part of their job as a coaching staff, especially with a young guy like myself.”

With Kadri heading into this summer a pending restricted free agent, Toronto has only to make him a qualifying offer of $850,500. But under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can sign their own free agents for a maximum of eight years.

That means Kadri could be calling Air Canada Centre home for a long time.

New York Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668816 New York Rangers

Maple Leafs and Red Wings Will Meet in Winter Classic After All

By JEFF Z. KLEIN

The Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs Winter Classic at the Big House is back on.

After being canceled because of this season’s lockout, the N.H.L.’s showcase regular-season event will be played Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium before an expected crowd of more than 100,000, the league announced Sunday.

Along with the originally scheduled teams and venue, the rest of the original outdoor program will return, which features hockey from the N.C.A.A., junior, high school, sled and A.H.L. levels as well as a Detroit-Toronto alumni game at Comerica Park in Detroit starting in mid-December.

At the Winter Classic game, the Red Wings will wear red sweaters featuring their traditional winged wheel. The Maple Leafs will wear blue sweaters featuring the large maple leaf crest of the 1920s.

In addition to the game, HBO’s Emmy-winning 24/7 reality program will return. “24/7 Red Wings/Maple Leafs: Road to the Winter Classic” will premiere on HBO in December.

The Rangers and the Flyers were showcased in the last installment of the series, leading to their outdoor matchup on Jan. 2, 2012.

New York Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668817 New York Rangers

NY Rangers, with red-hot power play, can make up ground in playoff race against Maple Leafs

By Pat Leonard

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Sunday, April 7, 2013, 1:16 PM

TORONTO — They may start calling themselves the st-Rangers, since this hockey team's power play is as unrecognizable as some of the new faces that have transformed it from a chronic weakness into a sizzling strength.

The Rangers are five-of-11 on the man advantage and 2-0-1 in three games since trading Marian Gaborik at Wednesday's deadline, entering a pivotal home-and-home against the fifth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs beginning Monday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto (21-13-4, 46 points) stands just four points ahead of the Rangers (19-15-4, 42 points), who also are breathing down the necks of the sixth-seeded Ottawa Senators (19-12-6, 44 points), who visit the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.

"I just think some of the personnel is playing better," coach John Tortorella said after Saturday's 4-1 road win over Carolina, when the Blueshirts scored on two of their first three power plays to take a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. "I think Zuke (Mats Zuccarello) has added something to it, and we're finding a way to score goals. There's been much more puck possession within it."

The Rangers' playmaking ability has increased exponentially with three new players in Zuccarello, center Derick Brassard and winger Ryane Clowe split among the two, new five-man units. They have combined for two goals and six points on the power play in three games.

Brassard, who came over from Columbus in the Gaborik trade, mans the middle with big-bodied net presences Clowe and Brian Boyle to his wings and playmaker Brad Richards and patient passer Dan Girardi at the points. On the other unit, Zuccarello and Michael Del Zotto hold up top while Derek Stepan's line with Ryan Callahan and Rick Nash does the work down low.

Zuccarello, who re-signed on March 28 after playing a full season in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, is playing at another level with the puck on his stick. His pass sending Nash to space in the slot on Saturday night for a goal was a thing of beauty.

"It's a heads up play," Nash said, "because he doesn't really have a great lane to the net to shoot."

Richards, who has had a season to forget, is finding his touch playing with Zuccarello and Clowe on even strength, and it's helping him on the power play. Saturday night, his swift entry and give-and-go to Clowe along the right wall set up Richards' smart pass to Stepan in the slot for the game-opening power-play goal.

"Zuke and I have been making a lot of those little plays," Richards said Saturday night. "We're making them in five-on-five too. When you make those and get those working and are feeding off them, things just seem to open up."

The Rangers weren't thrilled with their lackluster first and third periods on the second end of a back-to-back in North Carolina on Saturday night, but with Henrik Lundqvist coming off a 48-save performance and the Rangers' penalty kill 14-of-14 in the last four games, a successful power play makes all the difference.

ROUND TWO

The NHL announced on Sunday that the 2014 Winter Classic will take place on Jan. 1 between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium, as it was scheduled to this past January before the lockout postponed the event for a full calendar. Sources could not confirm whether the NHL's official slogan for the game will be: "Because this time, we won't cancel it."

New York Daily News LOADED: 04.08.2013

668818 New York Rangers

Rangers NHLPA player rep Martin Biron believes visors eventually will become mandatory even if it doesn't happen next season

BY Pat Leonard

RALEIGH, N.C. – Rangers player representative Martin Biron, whose teammate Marc Staal remains sidelined due to an eye injury from a deflected puck, anticipates the NHL players’ association will revisit the issue of whether visors should be mandatory pieces of equipment during the offseason.