Small Offense Is Big Enough for Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres tied a franchise record for futility Friday night by getting only 12 shots on goal at Landover, Md.

Tough night? Great night for Buffalo.

Making the most out of the least, the Sabres scored four goals on their dozen shots, beat the Washington Capitals, 4-1, and clinched a playoff spot.

Jason Dawe scored twice and Michael Peca had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, who won for the fourth time in five games to end the Capitals’ 4-0-1 home unbeaten streak.

Buffalo goalie Steve Shields had 30 saves, playing in place of Dominik Hasek, who is sidelined for at least the weekend because of a hairline rib fracture.

The Sabres’ 12 shots were the fewest since they had a dozen in a 3-2 victory over Calgary on Nov. 11, 1988.

Washington failed to record a shot on five power plays and is 0-for-23 on the man advantage over its last seven games.

Tampa Bay 4, Calgary 3--Rookie left wing Jeff Toms scored his second NHL goal at 2:46 of overtime at Calgary for the game winner.

Toms beat goalie Trevor Kidd after skating untouched in front of the Calgary goal to break a four-game Tampa Bay losing streak and move the Lightning within a point of eighth-place Washington and Hartford for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Tampa Bay, which trailed, 3-1, midway through the second period, cut the margin to one on Alexander Selivanov’s goal late in the second, and tied the score on Shawn Burr’s goal with 3:14 left in regulation.

Lightning goalie Corey Schwab stopped all eight shots he faced after replacing starter Rick Tabaracci.

Kidd made 37 saves for the Flames.

Dallas 2, Hartford 0--Bob Bassen and Sergei Zubov scored goals at Dallas and Arturs Irbe made 16 saves to lead the Stars to their franchise-record 43rd victory.

Irbe, subbing for injured Andy Moog, improved to 3-0-2 in his last five games with his third shutout of the season and 11th of his career. He also assisted on Zubov’s goal with 8:54 remaining.

The Stars, 8-0-1 in their last nine home games and 12-1-1 at Reunion Arena since the All-Star break, broke the club record of 42 victories set in 1993-94, the franchise’s first season in Dallas after moving from Minnesota.

With 10 games left, the Stars are five points short of tying the club record of 97.

Dallas was without All-Star defenseman Derian Hatcher, sidelined for at least seven days after knee surgery Friday morning.

The Whalers, who lost their fifth straight and slipped to 0-7-2 in their last nine road games, remained tied with Washington for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

New York Rangers 3, Detroit 1--The Rangers rebounded at New York after losing two straight at home, winning behind backup goalie Glenn Healy, who made 33 saves.

Healy, making only his second start in the last 19 games in place of Mike Richter, was solid throughout as he led the Rangers into sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference by two points over Pittsburgh.

It was a different Ranger team than the one that showed up in previous games against Ottawa and Montreal.

Following Wednesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Canadiens, the Rangers were so upset that captain Mark Messier refused to talk to the press and coach Colin Campbell said he was “disgusted” by his team’s performance.

Messier sustained an apparent leg injury late in the third period when he was checked into the boards by Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov. The Ranger captain did not return to the game.

Chris Osgood made 29 saves for the Red Wings, 3-3-1 in their last seven.