NHL ROUNDUP : Only 2,966 See Islanders Beat Sabres

Before only 2,966, the smallest home crowd in New York Islander history, the Islanders defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 3-1, at Uniondale, N.Y., on a snowy Tuesday night.

A blizzard in the New York area was responsible for the sparse turnout at Nassau Coliseum. Fans who showed up received free parking, a free program and a free ticket to a future game.

Patrick Flatley gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 1:49 of the third period.

Ottawa 3, Philadelphia 3--Vladimir Ruzicka scored on a power play with 2:47 to play in the third period at Ottawa, giving the Senators a tie that also ended the Flyers’ team-record six-game losing streak.

Ruzicka batted a pass from the slot behind goalie Dominic Roussel into the net. Ottawa stopped a four-game losing skid, but is winless in eight games.

Boston 6, Quebec 1--Adam Oates scored three goals in the third period, with Cam Neely assisting on all three, at Quebec.

Since the 1988-89 season, the Bruins have a 30-5-8 record against Quebec. Boston has won all four meetings between the clubs this season.

Oates was benched for much of the second period by Bruin Coach Brian Sutter. He responded by boosting the Bruins to a 3-1 lead 22 seconds into the third period, firing a slapshot past goaltender Jocelyn Thibault.

Vancouver 6, Detroit 3--Jimmy Carson scored twice and Cliff Ronning and Pavel Bure each had a goal and two assists for the Canucks at Detroit.

Carson put the Canucks ahead, 4-3, with his second goal, at 1:53 of the third period. Goalie Tim Cheveldae stopped Trevor Linden’s original shot, but was taken out of the play when teammate Dallas Drake ran into him.

St. Louis 6, Winnipeg 5--Brett Hull had a goal and two assists as the Blues built a four-goal lead and then hung on at St. Louis.

The Jets are in an 0-8-2 slump and haven’t won since Jan. 12, falling out of playoff contention without injured star Teemu Selanne. They’ve given up 21 goals in the last four games and 226 overall, more than every other NHL team except the Ottawa Senators.

San Jose 4, Chicago 3--Jamie Baker had a goal and an assist to help San Jose hold off Chicago in a sold-out, neutral-site game at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Goalie Arturs Irbe made 35 saves for the Sharks. San Jose won despite taking only 23 shots.