Berglund absence leads to suspension

The Sabres suspended forward Patrick Berglund indefinitely for failing to report to the team.

Berglund had missed two games with what coach Phil Housley initially called an illness.

“From my knowledge talking to the medical staff, he was ill, so we handled it that way,” Housley said. “Obviously it developed into something different, and (general manager Jason Botterill) and the management are handling that.”

Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 29th goal to extend his point streak to a career-best 14 games and had the shootout winner to help the Capitals beat the Sabres 4-3 for their fifth consecutive victory. Ovechkin has 17 goals and six points over during his point streak and has scored in six in a row . ... Aleksander Barkov scored at 3:24 of overtime to complete his first NHL hat trick and give the Panthers a 4-3 victory over the Maple Leafs . ... The Blues signed veteran D Robert Bortuzzo to a three-year extension worth $1.375 million per season. The 29-year-old Bortuzzo has a goal and two assists in 12 games this season.

AP