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VANCOUVER - For one game at least, Zack Kassian lived up to his billing as a power forward who can produce points. Kassian recorded four assists to earn the first four-point night of his star-crossed NHL career Sunday night as the Vancouver Canucks rallied to beat his former team, the Buffalo Sabres 4-2. "It was one of those games (where) it seemed the puck followed me," said Kassian. "Its nice personally, but its even better we keep this streak going." The Canucks (33-30-10) have now posted two consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January. Vancouver pulled within three points of eighth-place Phoenix, and one point of ninth-place Dallas in the race for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Sabres (20-43-8), last in the NHL by a wide margin, suffered their eighth loss in the past 10 games as they squandered an early 2-0 lead. Brad Richardson, Shawn Matthias, Yannick Weber and David Booth, with his first goal in 33 games, scored for the Canucks, who have won five of their last eight contests. The Sabres went ahead 2-0 only 3:29 into the game, but the score was tied 2-2 after the first period and the Canucks led 3-2 following the second. "In this league you cant play good sometimes," said Sabres coach Ted Nolan. "Youve got to play good all the time. Thats a lesson to learn and something we have to do to move forward." Tyler Ennis and Jamie McBain provided the offence for Buffalo. Kassian has often faced criticism since he was traded to Vancouver from the Sabres at the NHL trade deadline in February 2012 in the four-player deal that saw former Canuck fan favourite Cody Hodgson head to Buffalo. Kassian, Buffalos top 2009 draft pick (13th overall) excelled offensively two days after saying he is playing primarily a checking role now while Hodgson is primarily an offensive player. Hodgson, Vancouvers first choice (10th overall) in 2008, went without a point while the Sabres were badly outplayed for most of the game. "Im excited for every game, but obviously you want to play hard against your old team," said Kassian. "You definitely want to get the win, but its nice when you play well individually and as a line." Matthias, who was acquired in the Roberto Luongo trade from Florida, also had two assists while Richardson had one helper. The Canucks had not posted two straight wins since beating the Calgary Flames on Jan. 18, when coach John Tortorella drew a suspension for charging their dressing room between the first and second periods, and Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 21. Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack overcame a slow start to earn the win. After allowing goals on Buffalos first and third shots of the game, Lack was sharp and finished with 16 saves. "The team did a great job bouncing back," said Lack. "I felt like I wasnt really tracking the puck well the first half of the game but then I just kind of settled down and felt better after that." Vancouvers quick rally from its early deficit spoiled a strong effort from rookie Buffalo goaltender Nathan Lieuwen, a 22-year-old Abbotsford, B.C., native who made just his second NHL career start and third appearance after being promoted from Rochester of the AHL on March 16. He recorded 32 saves as his club was outshot 36-18. "Thats frustrating and thats hockey," he said. "You get some good bounces and you do good things and you make mistakes, so Ill definitely learn from it." Weber scored the winning goal just 1:40 into the second period as he put a shot through Lieuwens legs to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead. Sabres defenceman Mike Weber was close to his Canuck namesake on the play, but Lieuwen said the puck went straight in. "I thought I had it and, obviously, there was a hole," said Lieuwen. "I dont know what to tell you. Thats obviously one that I feel I can obviously save. What a terrible night for that to go in." The goal sullied his "dream come true" of playing in Vancouver, where he has "tonnes of family." Ennis was also left frustrated as he watched the Sabres lead disintegrate after he had McBain had put them ahead. "We heard (Lack) has been shaky, so we wanted to get on him early, and we did," said Ennis. Kassian was not around for the final horn because he took a puck between the eyes, for the second time on the night, with 1:32 left in the game. He needed "about 10 stitches" to repair a cut. "So my face isnt getting any prettier, thats for sure," he said. Notes: Vancouver lost Henrik Sedin to an apparent knee injury late in the second period as he collided with a fallen Buffalo player behind the Sabres net. "I went to hit a guy and he came back off the boards and he fell on top of me, so well see how it is (Monday)," said Sedin. The mishap occurred after the Canucks and NHL honoured the Canucks captain for his 1,000th NHL game, played March 12 in Winnipeg. NHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Jim Gregory represented the league. ... Vancouver forwards Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin returned after suffering injuries earlier this month, but Alex Burrows missed the game with a hand injury suffered Thursday against Nashville. ... Hodgson played his 200th NHL regular-season game. … Lack made his 35th start of the season. At the outset of the season, Tortorella indicated he would get 15-20 starts. … Buffalo defenceman Alexander Sulzer, who was acquired with Hodgson from the Canucks, missed his fifth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. … Sabres starting goaltender Michal Neuvirth, acquired from Washington at the trade deadline, also missed his fourth consecutive contest, with a lower-body ailment. … Neuvirth and Matt Hackett, who dressed as Buffalos backup, were traded for each other in the 2007-08 OHL season. Neuvirth went to Windsor from Plymouth while Hackett went the other way. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The senior threw for 319 yards and no interceptions in his final college game, leading No. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. - Canadian ice dancing, it seems, is in good hands. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .com) - Real Madrid claimed its 16th consecutive victory across all competitions on Saturday after earning a 2-1 win over Malaga at the Estadio La Rosaleda. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.(SportsNetwork.com) - Momentum is only as good as the next days starting pitcher, right? Well, if thats the case, the Detroit Tigers have to relish the situation they find themselves in despite a crushing Game 2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Tigers now turn to Justin Verlander in Game 3 and will try to regain control of the best-of-seven set, as the series shifts to Comerica Park. "Its always nice to have Justin Verlander on the mound no matter what the situation is," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "There wont be any carry-over for our guys from that game last night. Thats over with." Detroit seemed well on its way to returning home with a two-games-to-none lead in this series, as it held a 5-1 advantage in the eighth inning on Sunday. However, the Tigers bullpen, which had been so solid in Saturdays Game 1 win, imploded and allowed a game-tying grand slam to David Ortiz in the eighth, before Jarrod Saltalamacchias RBI single in the ninth lifted the Red Sox to a 6-5 win. "Weve got a ballclub that battles," Ortiz said. "We fight. We never give up. You saw it through the whole season. We found a way to get back and try to win a ballgame. Its never over until the last out, you know?" The comeback wasted a wonderful outing from Max Scherzer, who carried a no- hitter into the sixth inning and struck out 13 over seven innings. "We came away with the split," Scherzer said. "You have to see the glass half- full. This one stinks tonight, but guess what? The sun comes up tomorrow, and were going to be playing these guys at home in front of our fans. Its up to us to choose if were going to come out and compete. I think we will. I dont think this is going to deter our effort. I believe in this clubhouse. I believe in everybody in here, all 25 guys here. I still believe in us." Detrooit starters hadnt allowed a run in 23 consecutive postseason innings and the staff as a whole broke a major league record on Sunday by striking out 32 batters in the first two games of this set.dddddddddddd "Weve got a starting rotation thats relentless, and I said that before the series started. Every guy has their unique ability to shut down a team in their own way," Verlander said. "Im just one of the four guys right now." Verlander started the streak with eight scoreless innings in Game 5 of the ALDS against Oakland and comes into Tuesdays start having not allowed a run in 15 postseason innings this season. Of course, Verlanders terrific postseason comes on the heels of an inconsistent regular season that saw him go 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA. "Just playing with JV, a Cy Young winner, an MVP ... I definitely think that just playing with him, just seeing him being competitive ... Hes working his (tail) off, trying to figure out his arm angle, his curveball, his changeup and figure out a grip," teammate Torii Hunter said. Boston, meanwhile, will turn to righty John Lackey, who is certainly no stranger to the big stage. As a 24-year-old rookie, Lackey pitched the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a win in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and has pitched in the postseason on four other occasions for the Halos. "Hes not short on pitching in unfavorable conditions, whether its in a postseason in New York, and certainly one thats going to be in Detroit," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Were talking about a guy thats pitched at the highest level on the biggest stage that the game has to offer." Lackey, though, was not sharp in his ALDS start against the Rays, but still got the win, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers were 4-3 against the Red Sox in 2013, winning three of four at Comerica Park in June. ' ' '