Sabres Not Enjoying Holidays

The Buffalo Sabres have started their annual holiday slump.

The Sabres lost to the Detroit Red Wings, 7-2, Tuesday night at Buffalo for their second loss in as many nights.

“It just seems to fall around this time of year,” said Sabre captain Michael Peca, whose club lost by scores of 7-4 and 7-2 between Christmas and New Year’s Day last season.

“You’d like it not to happen, especially when you’re trying to battle back in the division and the conference. It’s something we’ve got to move forward from.”

Pat Verbeek scored twice and Tomas Holmstrom and Igor Larionov each had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings.

The Sabres lost, 4-1, at New Jersey on Monday night.

The Red Wings, 9-1 in their last 10 games and 11-2 in December, victimized Dwayne Roloson for four goals and Martin Biron for three. It marked the most goals given up by Buffalo since a 7-2 loss to the Mighty Ducks on Jan 1.

Phoenix 2, New York Rangers 2--Bob Essensa made 35 saves for the second game in a row as the Coyotes salvaged a tie with the Rangers at Phoenix.

Jeremy Roenick scored one Phoenix goal and set up the other in the second period to put the Coyotes up, 2-1. But the Rangers tied the score with 4:19 left in regulation on Kevin Hatcher’s second goal of the season.

The Coyotes had several scoring chances in overtime but couldn’t get one past Mike Richter, who made 27 saves.

It was the second overtime game in a row for the Coyotes, who beat the Kings, 3-2, on Sunday night when Essensa also had 35 saves.

Nashville 3, Carolina 2--Rookies Richard Lintner and Randy Robitaille scored 44 seconds apart and Tomas Vokoun won his second consecutive start as the Predators beat the Hurricanes at Nashville.

Vokoun made 27 saves--including two key second-period stops on Jeff O’Neill--to earn his second win in three days after opening the season 0-8-1.

Around the League

The Calgary Flames re-signed veteran defenseman Phil Housley to a two-year deal with an option for a third year. . . . Tampa Bay Lightning forward Darcy Tucker received a two-game suspension from the NHL for spearing Florida’s Todd Simpson Monday night. . . . Keith Primeau may be finished as a Carolina Hurricane as the deadline approached for him to accept the team’s offer of $6 million over two years. Team officials have said if Primeau does not take the offer and sign with the team, he will not play with the Hurricanes this season. It also appears Primeau will not be traded.