Sabres, slow start doom ailing Devils

Miller posts shutout; Brodeur (elbow) out

Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller reaches for a loose puck as New Jersey's John Madden looks for a rebound chance. Miller made 24 saves in blanking the Devils. (Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Jason Pominville ended a 20-shot first-period barrage against Kevin Weekes with a power-play goal and the Buffalo Sabres beat New Jersey, 2-0, last night in Newark, in what was the Devils' first game in a long while without Martin Brodeur starting in goal.

Ryan Miller had 24 saves in registering his second straight shutout, Jaroslav Spacek added two assists, and Patrick Kaleta scored his first goal of the season as the Sabres won for the eighth time in 12 games (8-2-2). Buffalo was 7 for 7 on the penalty kill.

The loss was the Devils' fourth in five games and it spoiled an outstanding effort by Weekes in place of the injured Brodeur.

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur suffered a bruised elbow Saturday.

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said before the game the team was awaiting test results. He gave no indication how long the 15-year veteran would be sidelined.

Brodeur's absence last night marked the first time in 57 games dating to last season that he did not start. It also marked only the 21st time in his career that he did not dress for a game.

With Brodeur out of the lineup, the Devils basically didn't show up for the first period. They were called for five penalties and were outshot, 20-3.

Only Weekes kept them in the game, and he nearly escaped the period without a goal.

Pominville got his fourth goal of the season with 34 seconds left in the period, just seconds after a 5-on-3 power play ended.

Spacek set up the goal with a pass from the right side to Pominville in the left circle. He found the top of the net as Weekes came across low to stop a shot along the ice.

Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 3 - Chris Campoli had his first two goals in nearly a year, the second 3:13 into overtime, and host New York overcame another blown three-goal lead in the third period to beat Columbus.

In a bizarre final sequence, the defenseman got to a loose puck after teammate Mike Comrie lost it in the Columbus zone and fired a shot past Fredrik Norrena. Play continued as Campoli waved his arms to signal that he scored, but to no avail. He then took a pass in the slot and drilled another shot into the center of the net, setting off a wild celebration as New York snapped an 0-5-1 skid.

After further review following the game, Campoli's initial shot had gone in.

Blackhawks 6, Avalanche 2 - Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd each had two goals and an assist, leading host Chicago to its third straight victory.