NHL | Sabres rally to beat Rangers

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Maxim Afinogenov made up for all the trouble that got him benched. The flashy Sabres forward, who sat out Game 4, scored a power-play goal 4 minutes, 39 seconds into overtime in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the New York Rangers last night, moving Buffalo to within a win of the Eastern Conference finals.

Chris Drury forced overtime by scoring with less than 8 seconds left as the Sabres finally beat goalie Henrik Lundqvist with their 37th shot on goal.

The series shifts to Manhattan for Game 6 tomorrow.

If necessary, a deciding game would be held Tuesday back in Buffalo.

Afinogenov's goal came 11 seconds after New York's Blair Betts was penalized for hooking.

Martin Straka scored for the Rangers in a series in which the home team has won each game.

Preds coaches staying. Nashville's third-straight exit in the first round of the playoffs hasn't shaken general manager David Poile's confidence in the only coach his franchise has known. Poile picked up the option on Barry Trotz and his staff for next season as a reward for the best regular season in franchise history.

Guerin out. San Jose forward Bill Guerin will not play against Detroit today in Game 5 of their second-round series because of a cut on his face.

Maltby signs. Detroit re-signed forward Kirk Maltby to a three-year contract.

Ducks 2, Canucks 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Scott Niedermayer scored 4:30 into the second overtime Thursday night to lift Anaheim into the Western Conference finals with a victory over Vancouver.

Goalie Roberto Luongo had kept the Canucks in the game with 56 saves.