NHL ROUNDUP : Sabres Beat Penguins; Lemieux’s Streak at 39

One streak was snapped, but another one continued Sunday at Buffalo, N.Y.

The Buffalo Sabres ended a five-game home losing streak by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-2. But Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux, limited to one shot in the first two periods, scored a third-period goal to tie the NHL’s second-longest consecutive game point-scoring streak at 39.

Lemieux tied the mark set by Wayne Gretzky in 1985-86, two seasons after Gretzky established the league record at 51 games.

The Pittsburgh center acknowledged that he is starting to feel the pressure, especially in games where the Penguins fall behind early and opponents check him more closely.

“There’s certainly a lot of pressure; I felt the pressure tonight,” he said. “It’s going to continue to build as the streak goes on.”

But Lemieux, who became the first player with 100 points this season while taking a one-point lead over the Kings’ Gretzky in the NHL scoring race, said he wants Gretzky’s record.

“It’s important for me to prove to myself and to the people that I can be consistent and do that over 52 games,” he said. “That makes a nice accomplishment.”

Lemieux began his streak with two assists Oct. 31 in an 8-4 loss to the Kings.

Had the Sabres lost, they would have set a franchise record for consecutive losses at home.

New York Islanders 4, New Jersey 4--The Patrick Division rivals remained tied for first as the Devils’ Patrik Sundstrom scored with 3:32 remaining in the third period at Uniondale, N.Y.

The Islanders are 10-2-1 in their last 13 games and 19-5-2 in their last 26. The tie broke their nine-game home winning streak.

Washington 7, Philadelphia 2--Geoff Courtnall’s hat trick at Landover, Md., helped the Capitals’ rookie goalie, Jim Hrivnak, win his second consecutive start.

Kelly Miller had two goals as Washington avoided falling into the cellar of the Patrick Division.

Hrivnak made 30 saves.