Trade Helps Jersey Curtail Buffalo Streak

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Dave Ellett scored early in the third period to break a tie as the New Jersey Devils continued to reap benefits from their trade with Toronto by beating Buffalo 4-1 Thursday night in East Rutherford, N.J., ending the Sabres’ 12-game unbeaten streak.

Ellett scored on a power play 1:31 into the final period and Bill Guerin added a game-clinching goal 1:44 later as the Devils won for the second time in as many games since acquiring Doug Gilmour and Ellett from the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Rob Niedermayer scored with 1:10 left in overtime to lift Florida to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on in Miami.

The Blues scored two third-period goals, including Brett Hull’s 38th, with 1:49 left in regulation to help force Florida’s fourth consecutive overtime game.

Before the game, the Panthers sent former Spokane Chiefs wing Jason Podollan to Carolina of the American Hockey League, making room for Ray Sheppard, who had missed 11 games with a knee injury.

Embattled Bruins star Adam Oates was cheered in his return to Boston - even before his three assists helped his team snap a 10-game winless streak with a 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay.

With the Bruins mired in an 0-8-2 slump last week near the end of their longest road trip of the season, Oates ripped Bruins management for assembling an undermanned team. Management stripped him of his alternate captaincy and began shopping him around.