Published: April 02, 2008 10:46 pm            

SABRES: Playoff hopes alive after Flyers, Bruins lose

The Buffalo Sabres remained in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot Wednesday night thanks to losses by the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 4-2 home win over the Flyers, whose point total remained at 91, three ahead of idle Buffalo.

Boston lost 3-2 in a shootout at New Jersey, gaining one point to bring their season total to 92.

The Sabres finish the regular season Saturday at Boston, and can still claim the Bruins’ spot in the playoffs by winning at Montreal tonight and winning Saturday’s game in regulation.

Buffalo could also beat out the Flyers for the final playoff spot if they pick up four points in the final two games and Philadelphia falls to New Jersey on Friday and Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Both of Philadelphia’s final games are at home.

The Washington Capitals, with 90 points and two games remaining, can also keep the Sabres out of the playoffs.

Buffalo, the defending Presidents’ Trophy winner, is looking to avoid becoming the third team in the NHL expansion era to miss the playoffs after topping the league regular-season standings the previous season. Only the New York Rangers in 1992-93 and Montreal in 1969-70 have done so.

Maxim Afinogenov scored the winning goal in the sixth hround of a shootout Tuesday night, lifting Buffalo to a 4-3 victory in Toronto.

Sabres defenseman Jiroslav Spacek could return from a 10-game injury absence tonight, according to the team Web site.

Zach Parise scored the only goal in a four-round shootout and New Jersey topped Boston for its third straight win.

Martin Brodeur stopped Bruins shooters Glen Metropolit, Phil Kessel, David Krejci and Marco Sturm in the first four rounds, setting up Parise’s duel with Tim Thomas.

The Bruins inched closer to a playoff spot, earning a point for the sixth straight game

Sidney Crosby scored twice and Evgeni Malkin netted the go-ahead goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who clinched their first division title in 10 years with the win over the Flyers.

        

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