Carolina's deflection beats Devils, 3-2

The Hurricanes hold a 3-0 lead over New Jersey.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Another deflection by the Carolina Hurricanes put the New Jersey Devils on the brink of being bounced out of the playoffs.
Rod Brind'Amour got his stick on Eric Staal's long shot during a power play and sent the puck hopping between Martin Brodeur's pads late in the second period on Wednesday night to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 victory and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Carolina has frustrated the Devils throughout the series that could end Saturday in New Jersey.
Scored all different ways
The Hurricanes have scored goals on tips, bank shots, even with redirections by skates -- theirs and the Devils' -- to move within one win of the conference finals for the second time in four seasons.
Matt Cullen added another man-advantage goal, and Justin Williams also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won seven straight since dropping the opening two games in the first round to Montreal.
Since Cam Ward replaced Martin Gerber early in Game 2 against the Canadiens, Carolina has allowed just 12 goals. The 22-year-old rookie made 28 saves to become the second NHL goalie to win his first seven postseason starts, joining Tiny Thompson, who did it for Boston in 1929-30.
Sergei Brylin and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils, who went from a 15-game winning streak to a three-game skid that has their season all but over. Only two NHL teams have come back from an 0-3 hole.
Brodeur made 21 saves but again was outdueled by Ward. New Jersey was just 3 seconds away from getting even in the series in Game 2, but consecutive one-goal losses have put the second round far out of reach.
Sabes 3, Senators 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- J.P. Dumont scored 5:05 into overtime to Buffalo a 3-2 victory over Ottawa and a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Chris Drury and Maxim Afinogenov also scored and rookie Ryan Miller stopped 26 shots for the Sabres who have won five straight and beat the Senators for the ninth straight time in the playoffs, dating to a 1997 first-round series.
The Sabres won despite missing two top regulars -- center Tim Connolly and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin -- effectively shutting down the East's No. 1 seed, a team that led the NHL with 314 goals in the regular season.
The Senators have little time to regroup with Game 4 of the best-of-seven series at Buffalo tonight. All three games of the series have been decided by one goal, including Buffalo's 7-6 overtime win in Game 1.
Jason Spezza scored twice, both on the power play, for Ottawa and forced overtime by scoring with 90 seconds remaining in regulation.
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