Leafs’ Toskala stops 35 shots

Vesa Toskala stopped 35 shots and helped keep the Toronto Maple Leafs’ threadbare playoff hopes alive with a 4-1 win over the inconsistent Buffalo Sabres on Friday night at Buffalo, N.Y.

Jason Blake, Matt Stajan and rookie Anton Stralman had a goal and assist each for the 12th-place Maple Leafs, who moved within five points of Boston for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth.

Islanders 3, Devils 1: At Newark, N.J., Kyle Okposo snapped a third-period tie by scoring his first NHL goal with 2:35 remaining, and New York ended a six-game losing streak with a victory over New Jersey.

Flyers 4, Rangers 3: At Philadelphia, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter each scored in the shootout and Richards had a goal in regulation to lead the Flyers to a win over New York.

Capitals 5, Thrashers 3: At Atlanta, Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s first 60-goal scorer in 12 years by netting two in Washington’s comeback victory.

Wild 2, Canucks 1: At Vancouver, British Columbia, Branko Radivojevic scored 1:33 into the third period to lead Minnesota to a victory.

Sharks 2, Ducks 1: At San Jose, Calif., Jeremy Roenick and Joe Thornton scored, and the Sharks tightened their hold on the Pacific Division lead by holding Anaheim without a shot in the third period.

Numminen resumes skating

Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen skated for nearly two hours, joining his team for the first time since January in his comeback from September open-heart surgery.

Numminen skated with injured defensemen Jaroslav Spacek (ribs) and Dmitri Kalinin (right shoulder) for an hour before participating in the Sabres’ workout before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

•Sabres center Tim Connolly will miss the rest of the regular season after the team decided he’ll have surgery to remove bone chips in his hip.

•Rangers forward Blair Betts had foot surgery and will be out two to three weeks.