BUFFALO, N.Y., April 20 (UPI) -- Maxim Afinogenov had a goal and an assist Friday, as the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders, 4-3, to win their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Drew Stafford, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy scored and Ryan Miller made 30 saves for the Sabres.
Miroslav Satan, Trent Hunter and Chris Campoli scored and Rick DiPietro stopped 23 shots for the Islanders, who staged a furious third-period comeback attempt, out-shooting Buffalo, 18-5, in the final stanza and falling just short of forcing overtime.
The Sabres led, 4-1, midway through the third, when Hunter put in a rebound of a shot by Bruno Gervais. Then, with just under seven minutes remaining, the Islanders made it 4-3 when Campoli was credited with a goal following a scramble for the puck in front of the net.
Miller sealed the win in the final seconds of regulation for Buffalo when he stopped a shot by Satan, and then blocked Yashin's rebound attempt.
