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MONTREAL (AP) -- Dominik Hasek was at the top of his game and moved the Buffalo Sabres back into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Hasek made 27 saves and Michael Peca had a goal and an assist to lead Buffalo to a 2-0 victory over Montreal and past the Canadiens in the playoff race.
|  | | Montreal goalie Jeff Hackett makes sure Buffalo's Dixon Ward won't be getting any rebound. |
The Sabres now have 79 points, while both Montreal and Carolina have 78. Each team has four games left in the regular season.
"I think for us it was more of a must-win situation," said Hasek, who earned his second shutout of the season and the 44th career. "If we fell three points behind Montreal, it would be very hard.
"Pittsburgh (82 points) is almost in, so I think it will come down to the three teams. We have four games left and we have to play like we did tonight."
The Canadiens outshot the Sabres 27-16, but went 0-for-6 on the power play.
Montreal plays Detroit, the NHL's second-best team, followed by the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay and Ottawa.
"We have to find something," said forward Sergei Zholtok, who was stopped twice from close range by Hasek. "We've been rested this week. We have no choice. We have to come up with a good effort if we can find one. We played well tonight but Hasek was the difference."
Hasek made several highlight saves. His best came late in the second period when he slid his blocker across the crease while sprawled on the ice to deny Craig Rivet. He also made two good glove saves on Dainius Zubrus.
"That's the difference between a 50-goal scorer and a three-goal scorer," said Rivet, when asked about his chance.
"When I looked up, it looked like I had that bottom corner open. I just tried to get it off as fast as I could. I wish I could have it back."
Peca returned to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for elbowing Calgary's Valeri Bure and scored late in the first period. His shot deflected off Patrice Brisebois and past goalie Jeff Hackett. Peca also added an assist on Vaclav Varada's empty-net goal with 27 seconds left in the third.
Buffalo plays Toronto, New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Washington in its final four games.
"I think facing three of the top teams in the conference is going to be a good test for us because I think it makes you prepare a lot more than if you have to face teams who you think are pushovers on paper," Peca said.
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Buffalo Clubhouse
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RECAPS
Philadelphia 3
Pittsburgh 2
Detroit 0
St. Louis 0
NY Rangers 2
Boston 2
Chicago 2
NY Islanders 2
Los Angeles 2
Anaheim 1
Buffalo 2
Montreal 0
Toronto 4
Washington 3
Tampa Bay 3
Florida 3
Calgary 3
San Jose 0
Edmonton 4
Phoenix 3
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