Hasek Returns, Makes 31 Saves in 1-1 Deadlock

Neither jet lag nor the Pittsburgh Penguins could beat Buffalo Sabre goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Hasek returned to the Sabres’ lineup Saturday and made 31 saves in a 1-1 tie at Pittsburgh.

Hasek left the team at midweek to see a specialist in Germany for evaluation of his lingering groin problem. He returned in time for Friday’s practice and played Saturday despite a hernia.

“He’s the best goaltender in the league for a reason,” teammate Michael Peca said. “A couple of days off aren’t going to slow him down.”

Hasek said he recovered from the trans-Atlantic round trip by getting 11 hours of sleep. He said he didn’t worry about his injury.

“If you want to win the game, you have no time to think about small things,” Hasek said. “You can’t worry about an injury. You have to concentrate on stopping the puck.”

Hasek made four saves in overtime, including two point-blank stops on Jan Hrdina. Still, the Penguins remained unbeaten in overtime at 6-0-13.

Phoenix 2, Calgary 1--Robert Reichel scored on a breakaway with 4:30 to play to lift the streaking Coyotes at Phoenix.

It was the fourth goal and sixth point for Reichel in four games with the Coyotes since being obtained in a March 20 trade with the New York Islanders. It also marked the 500th point of his career.

Oleg Tverdovsky set up the goal when he picked up a loose puck in front on the Flames’ goal and sent a pinpoint pass to Reichel up the center of the ice. The goal was Reichel’s 23rd of the season.

Vancouver 5, Montreal 1--Adrian Aucoin scored two goals at Vancouver, including his 20th to set a franchise record for defensemen, to help the Canucks end a six-game losing streak.

Mark Messier had two assists, including the 1,049th of his career, tying him with Gordie Howe for fourth on the all-time list.

Ottawa 7, N.Y. Islanders 3--Marian Hossa scored twice and Alexei Yashin had two goals and two assists for the Senators at Uniondale, N.Y.

Philadelphia 3, N.Y. Rangers 1--Valeri Zelepuk scored two goals for the Flyers at Philadelphia.

New Jersey 4, Chicago 4--Jason Arnott scored on a backhanded shot from in close with 10:47 to play, lifting the Devils to a tie at East Rutherford, N.J.

Toronto 2, Boston 2--The Maple Leafs scored two goals in the last 7:18 to pull even at Toronto.

Around the League

Doug Gilmour, whose signing as a free agent failed to turn the Chicago Blackhawks into a playoff contender, will sit out the rest of the season because of a bulging disk in his back. The 35-year-old center is considering microsurgery to shave the disk that is pressing on his sciatic nerve. . . . Defenseman Darius Kasparaitis of the Pittsburgh Penguins underwent knee surgery and is expected to return to the team early next season.