NHL ROUNDUP : Janney Lifts Bruins Past Sabres

Craig Janney scored his ninth goal at 1:33 of overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

It was only the second loss in 19 home games for the Sabres. The Bruins are unbeaten in six overtime games (3-0-3).

The Sabres failed to score on 21 shots in the last 43 1/2 minutes.

The Sabres are almost invincible on home ice (15-2-2), with both losses coming against the Bruins, who ended Buffalo’s 12-game winning streak at home Dec. 13.

“I thought we played an excellent road game,” Bruin Coach Mike Milbury said. “We deserved the two points. This was a good, hard hockey game that both teams wanted to win. Fortunately, we got one more goal than they did.”

New Jersey 3, New York Rangers 2--Even the return of star center Carey Wilson couldn’t stop the Rangers’ slide in the Patrick Division.

When Wilson went out with a knee injury, the Rangers were 8-1-3 and had a big lead in the division. With several other regulars also suffering injuries, the Rangers have struggled.

After Sylvain Turgeon’s second goal broke a 2-2 tie midway through the final period at East Rutherford, N.J., the Rangers’ winless string was stretched to 10 games (0-7-3). Not since the 1965-66 season have the Rangers had a longer winless spell. The return of Wilson cut the list of injured Rangers to 11 players.

On the other hand, the Devils, tied for first place in the Patrick Division, are 7-2-1 in the last 10 games.

Four of the five goals were scored in the last period.

Edmonton 6, Montreal 2--The Oilers increased their home unbeaten string to 13 games (11-0-2) with an easy win over the Canadiens.

Mark Messier scored twice and assisted on another goal as the Oilers built their lead in the Smythe Division to nine points over the Kings and Calgary.

It was the third loss in a row for the Canadiens, who are tied for second place in the Adams Division.

Winnipeg 2, Calgary 1--Center Thomas Steen scored at 2:49 of overtime at Calgary to give the Jets the victory.

Winnipeg’s Bob Essensa stopped 49 shots, including two in overtime before Steen scored his 13th.

Washington 2, Detroit 1--Now that the Capitals have learned to win at home, they may be the team to beat in the Patrick Division.

Bob Joyce and Dale Hunter scored power-play goals, and Don Beaupre had another big game in the nets to give the Capitals their third consecutive victory at home.

With four consecutive victories, the Capitals are tied with New Jersey for the division lead.

The Red Wings are still having trouble, especially on the road. They are 0-3-1 on this trip.

Joyce, who also assisted on the other Washington goal, has three goals and five assists in eight games since the Capitals obtained him from Boston.