NHL : Miller finally saves the day for Sabres

Ryan Miller’s blind glove save in the final seconds was enough – barely – to lift the Buffalo Sabres past the New York Islanders and into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

After giving up three third-period goals, Miller stopped the final nine shots he faced in Buffalo’s 4-3, series-ending victory Friday at Buffalo, N.Y.

Maxim Afinogenov scored the decisive goal as the Sabres hung on to win their third straight and eliminate the Islanders in five games.

The game seemed over after the Sabres opened a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, and led 4-1 with 13:22 left. But New York scored twice, capped when Chris Campoli converted a rebound with 6:53 remaining. But then Miller shut the door.

Miller stopped 30 shots, his best coming on Miroslav Satan with 12 seconds left. Satan cut across the crease and had Miller beaten before the goalie spun around and stuck out his glove hand, getting enough of Satan’s shot to turn it aside.

Miller then scrambled to the side of the net to prevent Alexei Yashin from wrapping in the rebound.

Devils 3, Lightning 0: At East Rutherford, N.J., a vintage, 31-save performance by Martin Brodeur has New Jersey a game away from eliminating Vincent Lecavalier and Tampa Bay.

Scott Gomez, who set up the first two goals, added an empty-netter as the Devils took a 3-2 lead in the entertaining first-round Eastern Conference series.

Sharks 3, Predators 2: At Nashville, Tenn., Patrick Marleau scored his second goal with 4:21 left, and San Jose grabbed a berth in its third straight Western Conference semifinals.

Marleau tied the game with a power-play goal late in the second period as the Sharks closed out Nashville with a Game 5 win on the Predators’ home ice for a second straight year.

Islanders’ Hill suspended

Islanders defenseman Sean Hill became the first NHL player suspended for violating the league’s drug policy – a 20-game ban that will carry into next season. It wasn’t announced what substance was found in Hill’s system.