PHILADELPHIA – Derek Roy and Jason Pominville scored 18 seconds apart early in the third period. Pominville and Maxim Afinogenov each had two goals for the Sabres, who pulled within one point of the Flyers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 victory.

Desperate to avoid falling five points behind the Flyers, the Sabres played like a team in a must-win situation.

Scottie Upshall and Steve Downie scored for Philadelphia, which lost in regulation for the first time in five games.

Islanders 4, Rangers 3

NEW YORK – Jeff Tambellini scored in the sixth round in the shootout, and Wade Dubielewicz, subbing for the second straight game for Rick DiPietro, made 27 saves through overtime. He then turned aside five shooters in the tiebreaker.

DiPietro was away from the team following the death of his grandmother, and is expected to return to practice Wednesday. Dubielewicz is 2-0 in NHL shootouts, building off his win at New Jersey on the final day of last season to clinch a playoff spot for the Islanders when DiPietro was injured.

Penguins 2, Lightning 0

TAMPA, Fla. – Sidney Crosby missed scoring chance after scoring chance before finally setting up Maxime Talbot for the game’s first goal with only 2:47 remaining. The Pittsburgh star made a dazzling return in his first game in 61/2 weeks.

Marc-Andre Fleury, in only his second start following his own extended injury layoff with a bad ankle, made 35 saves in his first shutout since Nov. 24. Evgeni Malkin, edging to within a point of the NHL scoring lead, scored into an empty net with 5 seconds remaining.

Devils 4, Maple Leafs 1

TORONTO – Zach Parise scored twice and Martin Brodeur made 40 saves as the Devils snapped a three-game winless streak and damaged the Maple Leafs’ playoff hopes.

David Clarkson and Brian Gionta also scored for the Devils, who were 0-2-1 in their last three games.

Nik Antropov scored the lone goal for the Maple Leafs, who had picked up nine of a possible 10 points in their last five games. Toronto remained six points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Vesa Toskala made his 19th consecutive start in goal for Toronto, but wasn’t very sharp, giving up four goals on 25 shots.

The Devils remained fourth in the Eastern Conference. They are one point behind the conference-leading Penguins in the Atlantic Division.