Hasek Leads Sabres Again

Dominik Hasek continued his recent shutout surge, making 33 saves to lead the Buffalo Sabres over the New York Rangers, 2-0, Sunday night at New York.

Hasek, who has five shutouts in his last 16 games, was especially sharp in the second period when the Rangers outshot the Sabres, 16-7. Two of Hasek’s saves came on point-blank shots by Wayne Gretzky on breakaways.

The Sabres got goals from Miroslav Satan in the first period and Mike Peca in the second period.

NHL Notes

The financially ailing Buffalo Sabres are expected to change owners as early as this week, ending the Knox family’s 28-year association with the team, The Buffalo News reported.

John Rigas, founder and chief executive officer of Adelphia Communications Corp., is negotiating to buy enough outstanding shares to become the team’s majority stockholder.

Sources at Marine Midland Arena told the News that Northrup Knox and Robert Swados, two of the franchise’s founding members, probably will leave the partnership.

The Sabres, who have lost $32 million the past three years, nearly missed their payroll Friday, which helped push talks to bring Rigas into control, the News reported. Rigas is one of the organization’s major financial backers.

Larry Quinn, the team’s president and chief executive officer, said Sunday that no agreement has been reached.