ROUNDUP

ROUNDUP
Friday's games
Sabres 4, Islanders 3
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ryan Miller's blind glove save in the final seconds was enough -- barely -- to lift Buffalo into the Eastern Conference semifinals. After giving up three third-period goals, Miller stopped the final nine shots he faced. Maxim Afinogenov scored the decisive goal as the Sabres hung on to win their third straight and eliminate the Islanders in five games. The game seemed over after the Sabres opened a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, and led 4-1 with 13:22 left. But New York scored twice, capped when Chris Campoli converted a rebound with 6:53 remaining. But then Miller shut the door. Miller stopped 30 shots overall, his best coming on Miroslav Satan with 12 seconds left. Satan cut across the crease and had Miller beaten before the goalie spun around and stuck out his glove hand, getting enough of Satan's shot to turn it aside. Miller than scrambled to the side of the net to prevent Alexei Yashin from wrapping in the rebound. Drew Stafford, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy also had goals for Buffalo, which had the NHL's top record this season.
Devils 3, Lightning 0
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A long-awaited vintage performance by Martin Brodeur has New Jersey a game away from eliminating Tampa Bay. Brodeur made 31 saves, got a couple of big blocks from his defensemen and goals by Andy Greene and Brian Gionta. Scott Gomez, who set up the first two goals, added an empty-netter as the Devils took a 3-2 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series. Game 6 is Sunday afternoon in Tampa. A seventh game, if necessary, would be played in New Jersey Tuesday night. The game ended with two fights and Devils assistant coach John MacLean and Lightning coach John Tortorella screaming at each other from behind their respective benches. After letting in some easy goals in the first four games, Brodeur looked like the goaltender who set a single-season record with 48 wins this season. He was sharp, in position and impregnable in posting his 22nd career playoff shutout.
Associated Press
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