Sabres End Devils’ Streak

An extra day at home is just what the Buffalo Sabres needed to end the New Jersey Devils’ nine-game unbeaten streak.

The Sabres defeated the Devils, 5-2, Thursday night at Buffalo in a game that was postponed a day earlier because of snow.

Good discipline certainly helped the Sabres as they did not commit a single penalty for the first time since a Feb. 17, 1980 game against Montreal.

“We had our ‘A’ game from start to finish,” Coach Lindy Ruff said of the Sabres, who won their third in a row. The Devils were 7-0-2 following a six-game losing streak and seven-game winless streak.

Minnesota 4, Chicago 2--The Wild stopped a three-game losing streak and beat the Blackhawks for the third consecutive time to win the season series, 3-1. Chicago is 3-8-0-1 at the United Center and has the fewest home points in the NHL.

Calgary 3, Nashville 0--Mike Vernon had to make only 15 saves for his 25th career shutout as the Flames won at home for the first time in six weeks.

Around the League

Defenseman Steve Smith of the Calgary Flames, who made a comeback three years ago, retired for a second time after another spinal-cord injury. Smith, 37, would like to keep playing, but too many injuries have forced him to again end his career. After 13 games this season, Smith admitted he wasn’t completely honest about a Nov. 8 concussion. “I’m here to tell you it was a little more serious than a mild concussion,” he said. “It was another bruise to my spinal cord. It has become very apparent it is a career-ending injury.”. . . . Joe Murphy of the Washington Capitals was cut on his face and neck early Thursday when he was hit on the head with a glass at a Manhattan club. Police said Murphy was struck by Amin Kallamni, who apparently was upset that the hockey player was talking to a woman who is the girlfriend of one of Kallamni’s friends. . . . The Montreal Canadiens acquired enforcer Gino Odjick from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward P.J. Stock and a sixth-round pick in next year’s entry draft.