NHL: Buffalo 1, New York Rangers 0

BUFFALO, N.Y., March 30 (UPI) -- Jhonas Enroth filled in perfectly for Ryan Miller by recording his first career shutout Wednesday and carrying the Buffalo Sabres past the New York Rangers 1-0.

Miller, who had appeared in all but 13 games for the Sabres this season, took a hard blow from Toronto defenseman Dion Phaneuf Tuesday and was held out Wednesday with what team officials called an upper body injury.

Enroth was called on to play in just his ninth NHL game and he made 23 saves to bring the Sabres a critical victory.

Buffalo moved into a share of seventh place with the Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They have a three-point lead over Carolina, which defeated Montreal Wednesday 6-2.

The game's only goal came from Tim Connolly 5:28 into the second period. Connolly scored on a slap shot with New York's Mark Staal in the penalty box for interference.

Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves for the Rangers, who had won six of their previous seven games.