NHL ROUNDUP : Nicholls Scores 2, Sabres 3

Mike Hartman reacted defensively when it was suggested that the Buffalo Sabres stole two points from the New York Rangers.

“If you want to put it that way,” Hartman said after Buffalo overcame a two-goal deficit in the final six minutes for a 3-2 victory Friday night at Buffalo, N.Y. “I think we worked hard for it, (but) you can put it any way you want to.”

The Sabres, 8-0-1 against the Rangers since New York’s last victory over Buffalo on Feb. 24, 1987, got the game-winner from Pierre Turgeon with six seconds left in regulation after Benoit Hogue tied the game with 5:44 to go.

Bernie Nicholls scored both Ranger goals and has six goals and five assists in eight games since coming over from the Kings.

New Jersey 5, Washington 3--Kirk Muller scored two goals, including the game-winner with 4:03 remaining, and assisted on two others in the third period to carry the Devils at Landover, Md., where they snapped a five-game winless streak.

Vancouver 4, Hartford 1--Steve Weeks stopped 23 shots at Hartford, Conn., as the Canucks won their third consecutive game. Weeks, a former Whaler, made 11 saves in the third period to win for only the third time in 15 decisions this season. Vancouver won for only the third time in its last 14 road games (3-10-1).