NHL Roundup : Buffalo Holds Off Detroit

The acquisition of former Buffalo Sabres goaltender Tom Barrasso is making a difference for the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-point leaders in the Patrick Division.

But the Sabres have learned to live without the talented netminder.

Rick Vaive, recently obtained from the Chicago Blackhawks, had a goal and an assist Wednesday night at Buffalo to lead the Sabres to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

The fourth win in a row extended the Sabres’ unbeaten streak to 6 games and moved them within a point of second place in the Adams Division.

When the unhappy Barrasso left Buffalo, it removed any doubt that 25-year-old Darren Puppa was the No. 1 goalie. In the previous 3 seasons, because of Barrasso, Puppa spent more time in the minors than he did with the Sabres.

In the last 4 games, Puppa, at 6 feet 3 inches one of the bigger goalies, has taken charge. He has yielded only 6 goals in 102 shots.

After Steve Yzerman, the Red Wings’ best player, scored his 35th goal and extended his scoring streak to 25 games on a power play late in the first period, Puppa took charge.

He stopped the last 15 shots and patiently waited for the offense to take over.

He didn’t have to wait long. Two minutes after Yzerman scored, Vaive assisted on Pierre Turgeon’s 16th goal. Halfway through the second period, Vaive scored his 13th and first for Buffalo.

To top off another outstanding performance, Puppa assisted on the last two goals with clearing passes.

“I feel our club is playing with confidence,” Buffalo Coach Ted Sator said. “When everyone is playing that way, it makes it easier for the goalie to do his job.”

Winnipeg 6, St. Louis 2--Dale Hawerchuk’s second goal of the game capped a 3-goal outburst in just 75 seconds in the third period at Winnipeg and turned a close game into a rout.

A fluke goal by the Blues’ Doug Evans with his team shorthanded early in the third period, cut the Jets’ lead to 3-2.

At 11:08, Gord Donnelly restored the 2-goal advantage. Then, 43 seconds later Brent Ashton scored to make it 5-2. At 12:23, Hawerchuk scored his 16th goal to close out the scoring.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 3--Denis Savard scored a shorthanded goal and newly acquired Adam Creighton had the game-winner in a 4-goal, second period at Chicago.

The Blackhawks’ scoring spurt came after both teams failed to score in the first period, despite having a total of 8 power-play opportunities.

Steve Larmer’s 18th goal put the Blackhawks on the board halfway through the second period. After the North Stars tied it, Savard scored with his team 2 players short.

Quebec 4, Hartford 4--Walt Poddubny scored on a power play with less than 6 minutes remaining in regulation at Quebec to give the Nordiques the tie.

Poddubny took a drop pass from Peter Stastny just inside the blue line, skated to the edge of the left faceoff circle and unleashed a hard wrist shot.

The Whalers had a 3-1 lead in the second period. Instead of turning in a victory, they extended their winless streak to 8 games.