Brodeur Saves the Day for New Jersey Again, 3-0

Martin Brodeur’s late-season bid for the Vezina Trophy has carried the New Jersey Devils to first place in the Eastern Conference.

Brodeur made 26 saves for his third consecutive shutout as the Devils moved into first place with a 3-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I just want to play as well as I can the rest of the season and after that other people will make the decision,” Brodeur said about the Vezina.

Bobby Holik, John MacLean and Doug Gilmour scored for the Devils, who won their fourth consecutive game and moved a point ahead of idle Philadelphia.

Buffalo 5, New York Rangers 1--Miroslav Satan scored his first career hat trick, helping the host Sabres end a six-game winless streak.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen that often,” Satan said.

Darryl Shannon added two goals and Dominik Hasek made 20 saves for the Sabres, one point from clinching first place in the Northeast Division. Wayne Gretzky scored his 25th goal for New York.

Calgary 3, Vancouver 3--Theo Fleury scored the tying goal at 8:02 of the second period for the visiting Flames.

Fleury had a chance to score in overtime, but did not get a shot on goal after being hooked from behind by Vancouver’s Trevor Linden. Referee Bill McCreary did not call a penalty on the play.

Cory Stillman and Sandy McCarthy also scored for Calgary.

San Jose 7, Colorado 6--Stephen Guolla scored 35 seconds into overtime to lead the Sharks at San Jose, and former King Tony Granato recorded his second hat trick.

Guolla took a pass from Jeff Friesen in the high slot, skated toward the net and wristed a shot through goaltender Craig Billington’s pads for his 13th goal.