NHL ROUNDUP : Sabres Halt Flames’ Win Streak as Malarchuk Stops 34 Shots

The Calgary Flames entered their game against the Buffalo Sabres with a five-game winning streak and an NHL-best 4.4 goals per game average.

Sabre goaltender Clint Malarchuk put a dent in both marks by recording 34 saves as the Sabres defeated the Flames, 2-1, Sunday night at Buffalo, N.Y.

“It’s a good win for me, because I’m from there,” said Malarchuk, who has competed in the rodeo and works on a ranch outside Calgary during the off-season.

With the score tied, 1-1, Dave Snuggerud of the Sabres scored his first goal of the season on a backhander 54 seconds into the second period and Malarchuk did the rest.

Doug Gilmour scored for the Flames 2:12 into the game.

But the Sabres, 4-0-1 in their last five games after a 1-5-3 start, tied it 43 seconds later on a goal by Rob Ray.

Philadelphia 7, Toronto 1--Scott Mellanby scored two goals and set up another as the Flyers routed the hapless Maple Leafs at Toronto.

Pelle Eklund, Murray Craven, Keith Acton, Rick Tocchet and Mike Ricci also scored for the Flyers. Tim Kerr had three assists.

Rob Ramage scored for the Maple Leafs, who have the worst record in the NHL at 2-13-1.

Montreal 2, Minnesota 2--Rookie Andrew Cassels scored with 7:06 left in the third period at Montreal to give the Canadiens the tie.

Cassels took a pass at the Minnesota blue line from Mathieu Schneider, went in alone and beat goaltender Jon Casey with a high shot. Dave Gagner had given the North Stars a 2-1 lead at 8:25 of the third period.