Oct 29, 2006 3 min read

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – Kari Lehtonen and the upstart Atlanta Thrashers put an end to the Buffalo Sabres’ bid for an NHL record start. Barely.

Lehtonen denied all three Sabres shootout attempts and stopped 32 shots overall in a 5-4 win Saturday night, ending Buffalo’s season-opening winning streak at 10. The Sabres will settle for sharing the league record for best start to a season set by Toronto in 1993.

Former Sabres player, Vyachelsav Kozlov, scored the only shootout goal the Thrashers needed, beating Ryan Miller with a snap shot inside the left post.

The loss – the Sabres’ first in the regular season since a 4-2 defeat to Philadelphia on April 7 – also ended their 15-game winning streak over two seasons, two short of the NHL record set by Pittsburgh in 1993.

It wasn’t for a lack of trying. Buffalo rallied four times from one-goal deficits, with Jochen Hecht tying the game with 1:44 left in regulation.

The Sabres got a standing ovation immediately following the game, and the team responded by skating out to center ice to acknowledge the supporters.

Buffalo’s comeback certainly wasn’t a surprise, except that it fell short. The Sabres had already won five games in which they trailed this season, including three times rallying back from two-goal deficits.

Atlanta’s Bobby Holik and Scott Mellanby had a goal and assist each, and Niko Kapanen also scored in a game in which the Thrashers never trailed.

Jason Pominville led Buffalo with a goal and two assists, followed by Daniel Briere who had a goal and assist. Thomas Vanek also scored for the Sabres in a game between the Eastern Conference’s two best teams.

The game had a playoff-type atmosphere, featuring a raucous capacity crowd anticipating a record. One fan even brought a sign that read: “82-0: Why not?”

The electric mood was doused when the Thrashers opened a 2-1 lead on Mellanby’s goal 10 minutes in. But the crowd was certainly into it after Hecht tied the game, spending the final 2 minutes of regulation on its feet.

Devils 1, Blue Jackets 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Martin Brodeur stopped 22 shots for his second straight shutout and Zach Parise provided the winner late in the second period to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

The shutout was Brodeur’s third of the season and the 83rd of his career, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the NHL’s all-time list, one ahead of Hall of Famer Jacques Plante.

Hurricanes 6, Lightning 4

RALEIGH, N.C. – Eric Staal and Scott Walker each scored two goals and the Carolina Hurricanes set a franchise record with three scores in 43 seconds Saturday night to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4.

Kevyn Adams and Erik Cole also scored for the Hurricanes, who led almost the entire way in a matchup of the past two Stanley Cup champions. Rod Brind’Amour added three assists, while Cam Ward finished with 19 saves.

Bruins 2, Senators 1

BOSTON – Zdeno Chara scored the winning goal in his first game against his former team, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

Chara, one of the NHL’s top free agents last summer, scored a power-play goal on a blistering slap shot from the right point with 4:25 left to give the struggling Bruins just their second win in six games.

The Bruins also hired away former Ottawa assistant general manager Peter Chiarelli in May, naming him the team’s GM after firing Mike O’Connell. Chiarelli later fired coach Mike Sullivan and replaced him with Dave Lewis.