‘Dominator’ Returns

Dominik Hasek made 38 saves for his second straight shutout, and the Buffalo Sabres got goals from three defensemen in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

Hasek recorded back-to-back shutouts for the third time in his career and the first time since November 1996. He has 23 career shutouts, including three this season.

Defensemen Mike Wilson, Jason Woolley and Bob Boughner each scored their first goals of the season for Buffalo, which hasn’t lost in four games (2-0-2).

Hasek had been ridiculed by Sabres fans for most of the season, but the abuse has quieted steadily in the nine games since he was benched. In that stretch, he has a 1.75 goals-against average and .940 save percentage, figures that had become typical for the league’s reigning most valuable player.

The newest member of the Washington Capitals was the hero in their first game at their new arena, the MCI Center. Jeff Toms scored on a 2-on-1 break 3:32 into overtime to give the Caps a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.

Brian Leetch scored twice to cap a three-goal comeback by the host Rangers who salvaged a 4-4 tie with the Philadelphia Flyers in Madison Square Garden. It was New York’s NHL-leading 10th tie.

Slap shots

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Bryan Marchment has been suspended for three games without pay and fined $1,000 by the NHL for his hit on Dallas center Mike Modano, who led the league in scoring but is expected to miss six weeks. … After reversing his guilty plea John Spano was indicted in Boston on bank fraud charges in connection with $80 million in loans he sought to finance his purchase of the New York Islanders.