NHL ROUNDUP : New Line a Big Lift to Montreal

Denis Savard, one of the NHL’s top centers for more than a decade, says he will gladly stay on right wing if it means playing with newly acquired center Kirk Muller.

Savard had two goals and Muller added one as the Savard-Muller-Sylvain Turgeon line struck for three goals at Montreal Wednesday night as the Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 5-1.

Rookie John LeClair and captain Guy Carbonneau also scored for Montreal, 4-2-1 and first in the Adams Division.

The Canadiens got a scare when goaltender Patrick Roy left the game at 13:23 of the first period after taking a shot from Christian Ruuttu on the mask. X-rays were negative, but Roy was left with a badly swollen jaw.

Backup goalie Roland Melanson saw his first action of the season and was beaten only on Dave Snuggerud’s deflection of a floating shot from the point at 9:48 of the second period.

It was the second loss in a row for the Sabres, who are 1-4-1 and last in the division.

N.Y. Rangers 4, New Jersey 2--Sergei Nemchinov scored twice in 20 seconds late in the second period at New York as the Rangers ended a three-game losing streak.

Mike Richter made 30 saves for his first victory in three decisions for New York, which evened its record at 4-4-0. The Devils, who began 4-0-0 for the first time in history, lost their second game in a row.

Hartford 3, Winnipeg 2--John Cullen and Pat Verbeek, the Whalers’ recently returned holdout duo, combined for six points at Winnipeg as Hartford won its third game in a row.

Cullen, a free agent, signed a four-year contract last Saturday, and Verbeek, who walked out during training camp, will go to arbitration with his contract demands.

Cullen and Verbeek each had a goal and two assists as the Whalers improved to 3-1-1.

Cullen, fifth in NHL scoring last season with 110 points, has five points in two games. Verbeek, who scored against Montreal on Monday, has two goals and two assists.