NHL ROUNDUP : Sabres Stay Hot by Beating Capitals

It is probably too late for the Buffalo Sabres to overtake Montreal in the Adams Division. After all, they haven’t even reached .500.

But, the Sabres are playing the best hockey in the division, maybe in the entire NHL.

Dave Andreychuk scored the first goal for the Sabres Tuesday night at Buffalo, then set up four more in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.

The Sabres, who trail the Canadiens by 16 points, are unbeaten in the last seven games (5-0-2). In this one, it was 3-3 midway through the third period.

But Randy Wood and defenseman Ken Sutton scored within 59 seconds to break it open.

Andreychuk set up Sutton’s goal, then the two of them assisted on Pat LaFontaine’s 30th goal at 16:29. It was the 17th game in a row in which Andreychuk has scored a point. If he gets a point Friday night against Minnesota, he will tie Gil Perreault’s club record.

New Jersey 3, Philadelphia 1--Although he lost his shutout with 2:14 remaining at East Rutherford, N.J., Greg Terreri stopped 26 shots and ended the Flyers’ modest unbeaten string at four games.

The Devils’ 26th victory enabled them to climb over Pittsburgh into third place in the Patrick Division.

It was the 10th winless road game in a row for the Flyers (0-8-2), last in the Patrick Division.

Boston 3, Winnipeg 3--The Jets’ Bob Essensa, just about as sharp as any goaltender in the league, had a 3-0 lead halfway through the game at Winnipeg.

But Essensa, the league leader in shutouts with five, lost his best defenseman, Phil Housley, and was fortunate to escape with a tie.

Housley, after scoring his 20th goal, was given a game misconduct for slashing Boston’s Craig Janney eight minutes into the second period. The defense fell apart shortly thereafter.

Bob Sweeney scored the first two Boston goals and former Jet Brent Ashton scored the tying goal with 3:28 left in regulation.

The Bruins stretched their unbeaten string to six games.

Vancouver 5, Montreal 3--Dana Murzyn and Sergio Momesso scored 24 seconds apart late in the game at Vancouver to give the Canucks a victory.

San Jose 6, Hartford 5--Paul Fenton scored with 12 seconds left in regulation at San Jose to give the Sharks their 12th victory.