Once again, Sabres rally to win

Thomas Vanek had two goals, including the game-winner 19 seconds into overtime, and the Buffalo Sabres erased another two-goal deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers, 5-4, Friday night at Buffalo, N.Y.

With Buffalo on the power play, Vanek picked up a loose puck in front and slid it past goalie Alex Auld to give the Sabres their second win in a row and 13th overall.

Buffalo has come back to win six times after falling behind by two goals this season.

The Sabres played for the first time without three regulars, including starting goaltender Ryan Miller, who is day-to-day because of a lower-body muscle strain, forward Maxim Afinogenov (upper body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder (broken left forearm).

Detroit 3, Nashville 0 -- Dominik Hasek stopped 21 shots at Detroit to record his second consecutive shutout. He has not given up a goal in 153 minutes 28 seconds. The Red Wings have won eight in a row.

Edmonton 4, Columbus 1 -- Ryan Smyth scored twice to help the visiting Oilers stop a four-game losing streak. The defending Western Conference champions had lost six of seven to fall to ninth place in the conference.

Chicago 3, St. Louis 1 -- Radim Vrbata scored two power-play goals in the first period and the host Blackhawks ended an eight-game losing streak. They hadn’t won since beating Montreal at home Oct. 18.

Ottawa 6, Pittsburgh 3 -- Dany Heatley scored the Senators’ first and last goals at Pittsburgh to help them end a five-game losing streak, the franchise’s longest in 10 years.

New York Rangers 5, Atlanta 2 -- Michael Nylander scored two goals to help the visiting Rangers win for the fourth time in five games and end the Thrashers’ four-game winning streak.