NHL Roundup : Foligno Back, Helps Sabres Jolt Canadiens

Mike Foligno, returning from a five-game absence, scored two goals Friday night at Buffalo to lead the lowly Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Stanley Cup defending champion Montreal Canadiens.

The Sabres, who have the worst record in the league at 7-21-4, won for only the third time in 19 games since Craig Ramsay took over as coach. It was the first win for the Sabres over the Canadiens in four tries this season and prevented Montreal from taking over sole possession of first place in the Adams Division.

Foligno, who was sidelined by a bruised kidney, scored on a power play at 14:22 of the second period to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead, but the Canadiens fought back to tie.

Then, near the middle of the third period, Foligno took a drop pass from Christian Ruuttu and scored his ninth goal of the season to give the Sabres one of their infrequent victories.

For the third game in a row, Jacques Cloutier was in the nets for the Sabres, this time stopping 25 shots. There are rumors that the Sabres are trying to trade Tom Barrasso, who just two seasons ago was considered the best goalie in the league.

Barrasso, 21, is 1-8-1 this season.

New Jersey 6, Washington 4--The Capitals’ problems keep getting bigger. In this game at East Rutherford, N.J., they played the Devils on even terms for two periods. But goals 19 seconds apart by Kirk Muller and John MacLean early in the final period sent the Capitals (10-17-6) reeling to their fourth loss in a row.

The defeat came despite a fast start in which the Capitals had three shots on goal in the first 81 seconds and scored on all of them. However, goalie Al Jensen couldn’t hold the lead and was beaten for the first time in 15 games against New Jersey.

Rookie Kirk McLean, recalled from the minors shortly before the game, played in goal for New Jersey.

Edmonton 4, Vancouver 2--Linemates Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri rallied their team in the third period at Edmonton as the Oilers won their sixth in a row.

Gretzky and Kurri led a four-goal burst after the Canucks had dominated for two periods and led, 2-0. Gretzky tied the score with 6:45 left, and Kurri won it three minutes later. Gretzky scored his league-leading 33rd goal, this one into an empty net, with 10 seconds left.