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  Thursday, Feb. 3 7:00pm ET
Biron continues dominance of Ottawa
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Martin Biron continued his "education through experience" program Thursday night.

Biron was back in goal for Buffalo, and the rookie turned aside 30 shots in the Sabres' 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Ron Tugnutt
Buffalo's Stu Barnes gets caught in a triangle formed by Ottawa goalie Ron Tugnutt and defensemen Janne Laukkanen, center, and Jason York.
Biron, making his 11th start in 12 games, gave way to Dominik Hasek on Tuesday. But Hasek, the All-Star who played well against Anaheim after sitting out 40 games, is still bothered by a groin injury.

Hasek said Thursday he will not play in Sunday's All-Star game in Toronto.

"If Dom comes back and plays most of the 29 (remaining) games, I'll handle it the way I wanted to at the beginning of the year: just sit back and look at him," Biron said.

"If I go back in and play a lot, it's more experience. Everybody at one time in their career has to go through a spot like that."

Biron has impressed his teammates with his play in Hasek's absence.

"He was looking for this opportunity," Sabres captain Michael Peca said. "He's playing tremendous."

Peca, Miroslav Satan, Brian Holzinger and Maxim Afinogenov scored for Buffalo, undefeated in its last four home games (3-0-1). Biron raised his record to 3-0-1 against the Senators.

Marian Hossa and Vaclav Prospal scored for Ottawa, 0-2-2 in its last four road games.

Ron Tugnutt made 21 saves for the Senators, who had not scored a regular-season goal in Marine Midland Arena since Andreas Dackell's overtime goal Dec. 30, 1998. Ottawa's road scoreless streak against Buffalo ended at 166:27.

"Thank God we don't come here anymore this year," Senators defenseman Chris Phillips said.

Ottawa continues to be rocked by a flu bug which has swept across their dressing room. Four players missed Tuesday's tie against Boston, and captain Daniel Alfredsson left Thursday's game early.

"You can't use that as an excuse," Ottawa coach Jacques Martin said. "There were other guys who were healthy."

Buffalo's four-goal output was its most since a 5-0 win at Anaheim on Jan. 17, and ended a six-game stretch where the Sabres scored two goals or fewer.

Peca scored his 10th on a power play with 5:04 to go in the opening period. The goal broke Buffalo's 0-for-27 streak on the power play and gave Peca four goals in six games.

"A lot of credit goes to the guys who I'm playing with," Peca said. "We've been getting a lot of chances, and we've been fortunate to capitalize. We've been happy with the chances we've been creating the last few games."

Satan made it 2-0 with 9:20 remaining in the second. He wristed a shot between Tugnutt's legs for his 26th goal.

Holzinger poked home a loose puck for his seventh at 15:44. During a scramble in front of a downed Tugnutt, Rob Ray was able to get the puck to Holzinger, who had an open net.

At 1:27 of the third, Hossa scored his 18th on a slap shot which deflected off the skate of Buffalo defenseman Rhett Warrener.

Afinogenov snapped a shot past Tugnutt at 7:01, scoring his 13th and ending a career-long six-game scoreless streak.

Prospal scored his 13th on the power play 2:35 later. His wrist shot beat Biron on the stick side.

 


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