NHL

Panthers halt Sabres' winning streak

By wire services
Published December 23, 2005

SUNRISE - Jozef Stumpel scored two goals to help the Panthers beat the Sabres 4-1 on Thursday, ending Buffalo's seven-game win streak and goalie Martin Biron's 13-game win streak.

The Sabres, who were last beaten by San Jose 5-0 on Dec. 2, also had won nine consecutive road games, one short of the league record they set in 1983-84 and matched by the Blues in 2000 and Devils in 2001. Buffalo had last lost on the road in Ottawa, 6-1 on Nov. 12. That also was Biron's last defeat.

Rostislav Olesz and Olli Jokinen also had goals for Florida, and Roberto Luongo had 27 saves.

FLYERS 4, SENATORS 3: Simon Gagne celebrated his return to host Philadelphia's lineup with a goal and an assist. Gagne, who missed five games with a strained groin, converted on a power play off a give-and-go with Peter Forsberg to give the Flyers a 4-0 lead 9:08 into the second.

AVALANCHE 4, WILD 3: Marek Svatos scored the winner for Colorado, which is 1-9-2 at home against Minnesota during the regular season. Tied at 3, Svatos converted a one-timer from Joe Sakic behind the net 36 seconds into the third.

CAPS 6, THRASHERS 5 (SO): Rookie Alexander Ovechkin scored the only goal in a shootout for visiting Washington. After Andrew Cassels and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk failed to start the shootout, Ovechkin's shot went over Michael Garnett's glove.

COYOTES 2, SHARKS 1: Mike Comrie's goal 2:52 into the third helped end host Phoenix's four-game losing streak. Comrie scored 11 seconds after a hooking penalty against Scott Hannan gave the Coyotes a two-man advantage. Evgeni Nabokov stopped Paul Mara's one-timer and Ladislav Nagy's rebound from the side of the crease but not Comrie's shot from the slot.

BRUINS 4, LEAFS 1: Alexei Zhamnov got the tiebreaking goal, his first score of the season, and Hannu Toivonen stopped 26 shots for the Bruins.

DENVER - Former Avalanche forward Steve Moore is trying to slash the attorney fees he owes to Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi and others. Bertuzzi and other defendants want almost $161,000 after a judge dismissed a civil suit in October. Moore's attorney offered about $80,000.

Moore hasn't played since March8, 2004, when Bertuzzi grabbed him from behind, punched him in the head and slammed his head into the ice. Moore suffered three broken vertebrae in his neck, a concussion and other injuries. Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to probation and community service.

Moore's civil suit accused Bertuzzi, Canucks coach Marc Crawford and others of conspiring to hurt Moore after Moore hit Canucks captain Markus Naslund in a previous game. A judge ruled the suit would be better handled in Canada, where Moore's injury occurred. Colorado state law requires plaintiffs pay defendants fees and costs when cases are dismissed before trial.

OLYMPICS: Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff withdrew his name from Finland's roster to rest a hip injury. No replacement was named.

GRETZKY FUNERAL: Services for Wayne Gretzky's mother, Phyllis, drew hundreds, including commissioner Gary Bettman, in Brantford, Ontario. She died Monday at 64 after a yearlong battle with lung cancer.

KINGS: Center Jeremy Roenick is expected to miss about six weeks after having surgery on his broken left ring finger. Roenick was hurt during Monday's loss to Vancouver.

[Last modified December 23, 2005, 01:14:13]