Sabres Hoping Shields Can Shut Out Senators

Buffalo goaltender Dominik Hasek is not expected to play in Game 7 of the Sabres’ first-round series tonight against the Ottawa Senators at Buffalo.

Hasek has not played since suffering a sprained knee in Game 3.

The Sabres lost the next two games with Steve Shields in goal before Shields posted his first career shutout in a 3-0 victory in Game 6 Sunday.

The Sabres, who have won only one playoff series since 1983, will face Philadelphia in the second round if they win tonight. The Senators, making the first playoff appearance in franchise history, will play New Jersey if they advance.

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The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers square off at Dallas for Game 7 of their series tonight, with Oiler goalie Curtis Joseph holding the key. Joseph, who has struggled at home, shut out the Stars in the last two games in Dallas, 4-0 and 1-0, the latter in double overtime. Joseph stopped 68 shots in those two games. The Stars swept the Oilers in the regular season.

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The street adjacent to Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena has been renamed Mario Lemieux Place and the city will hold a Mario Lemieux Day to celebrate the name change honoring the Penguin star who retired after Saturday’s playoff loss at Philadelphia. The Penguins’ address, formerly 500 Auditorium Place, is now 500 Mario Lemieux Place.

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St. Louis Blues goaltender Grant Fuhr was one of the biggest surprises in the league, coming back from a career-threatening knee injury and at 34, playing as well as ever. Backup Jon Casey, signed to a $1-million deal was barely used.

Fuhr was perhaps the Blues’ best player in the playoffs, twice shutting out the Red Wings, which Detroit won, 4-2.

“I’ve seen him play at his best, and I don’t think he’s been any better than in this series,” said Red Wing Coach Scotty Bowman.