NHL Roundup : Sabres Again Sharp in 4-3 Victory

Gil Perreault and Sean McKenna scored 29 seconds apart midway through the third period Friday night to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Black Hawks at Buffalo.

The Sabres, who are 9-1-3 in the last 13 games, moved within three points of Montreal in the Adams Division. Just as he has throughout his career, Perreault has been the spearhead of the Sabres’ drive.

Perreault, the first player chosen when the Sabres were an expansion team in 1970, has been a star since his first game. A smooth-skating center, he has been the driving force in this surge. His goal gave him at least one point in each of the last 13 games.

The goal was the 468th of his 15-year career and gave him 1,211 points. He passed former Philadelphia star Bobby Clarke to move into 11th place on the all-time scoring list.

With the score tied, 1-1, Perreault put a move on defenseman Mark Bergevin and beat goaltender Warren Skorodenski with a quick wrist shot into the far corner. McKenna made it 3-1 and the Black Hawks never tied it again.

The victory went to Bob Sauve, back in the nets after a back injury forced him out of action Dec. 13. He only had to stop 14 shots to extend Chicago’s winless streak at Buffalo to nine games (0-7-2).

New York Rangers 9, New Jersey 6--The Rangers find themselves in the unusual position of having to fight to stay ahead of the Devils in the Patrick Division.

Pierre Larouche scored the first and last goal in a four-goal, first-period assault at East Rutherford, N.J. that enabled the Rangers to move four points ahead of New Jersey and tie Pittsburgh for fourth place.

The Rangers ended their four-game winless string despite Aaron Broten’s hat trick. Broten scored all three goals on power plays.

Mark Pavelich also scored two goals for the Rangers, who took advantage of the wide-open play of the usually defensive-minded Devils.

St. Louis 6, Winnipeg 2--Brian Sutter scored three goals and linemate Bernie Federko had two at Winnipeg to send the Blues soaring into first place in the Norris Division.

Dave Barr opened the scoring for the Blues on the team’s a little more than two minutes after the opening faceoff.

Sutter and Federko followed with goals to give the Blues three on five shots. At this point (6:45 into the game), rookie Mark Holden replaced Brian Hayward in the Jets’ goal.