Hasek Sparkles in Return

Dominik Hasek came back, and so did the Buffalo Sabres.

“It was more than satisfying--it was a great one for us,” Sabre Coach Lindy Ruff said after the Sabres rallied behind their goaltender Friday night to defeat the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime at New York.

It was Hasek’s first game back after sitting out 12 games with a groin injury, and he looked as sharp as ever to the Rangers.

“I didn’t expect to see anything different,” Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch said of Hasek, who made 27 saves as he extended his personal unbeaten streak against the Rangers to eight games.

Hasek said his groin was “not 100%, but strong enough to play the game.”

Hasek made the save of the game with 9:21 left in the second period when he stuck out a skate to deflect a close shot by Manny Malhotra. That kept the Sabres within a goal and they rallied behind Michal Grosek and Miroslav Satan, who each scored.

“It’s automatic, because there is no time to think about it,” Hasek said of his stunning save on Malhotra. “I just do it, and it was great that I was able to make the save.”

Ottawa 2, Dallas 1--Rookie Marian Hossa scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period and Damian Rhodes stopped 31 shots to lead the Senators in a matchup of conference leaders at Dallas.

“We knew it would be a big test against a great team,” said Rhodes, who withstood a third-period barrage to push his record to 20-12-4. “But we weren’t overexcited. We wanted to show we could beat a team like that and show that we’re a team to be reckoned with.”

Hossa solidified his Calder Trophy credentials, converting Steve Martin’s centering pass for his 11th goal with 5:46 to play in the second period.

Darryl Sydor returned from a five-game absence because of a sprained knee and notched the only goal for the Western Conference-leading Stars, who still lead the league with 96 points.

Detroit 5, Tampa Bay 3--Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom scored short-handed goals for the Red Wings 22 seconds apart in the third period at Tampa.

Fedorov tied the score, 3-3, scoring his second goal of the game on a one-timer from the right circle at 5:17. Lidstrom made it 4-3 with a slap shot from the left circle at 5:39.

N.Y. Islanders 3, Vancouver 1--Rookie Mike Watt scored the go-ahead goal as the Islanders ended an eight-game winless streak in a battle of last-place teams at Vancouver.

Around the League

New York Ranger defenseman Jeff Beukeboom, sidelined since early February because of a concussion, said he will sit out the remainder of the season.