Chatecke » Clowe and Jon Merril. John Erskine,

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- First, Ryan Miller. Now, Pat LaFontaine. A day after trading their star goalie to St. Louis, the Buffalo Sabres lost another face of their franchise after LaFontaine abruptly resigned as president of hockey operations on Saturday a little more than three months after being brought in to provide a new direction to the NHLs last-place team. The Sabres announced the decision in a news release issued after speculation had been raised of a potential front-office shake-up involving LaFontaine. "I would like to thank Pat for all he has done for the organization," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in the release. "Pat joined us at a very difficult time, and helped transition the organization down a new path." The Sabres said LaFontaine would be returning to his previous role working with the National Hockey League. LaFontaine had been working with the league on player safety issues before being hired by the Sabres in mid-November. The former Sabres captains arrival was hailed as a major turning point for a struggling team. LaFontaine took over following a change in the front office during which general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were dismissed following the Sabres 4-15-1 start. LaFontaines first move was hiring former Sabres coach Ted Nolan to take over as coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. LaFontaines next step came in January, when he hired Tim Murray as general manager. "Terry Pegula hired me in November, and my primary objective was to lead the Sabres organization through a time of transition," LaFontaine said in the Sabres release. "Im proud of what weve been able to accomplish in a short period of time, and want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for the opportunity and their support during my time with the Sabres." LaFontaines resignation still comes as a major surprise. In January, LaFontaine talked openly about how he would use his connections to USA Hockey in a bid to lure national and international events to Buffalo. He leaves a day after Murray made his first big splash by trading star goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a conditional 2016 third-round pick in a deal reached in advance of the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday. The Sabres (18-34-8) had the day off on Saturday, and return to practice on Sunday before travelling to play at Dallas on Monday. They remain in last place, but are enjoying their first three-game winning streak following a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. This is not the first time LaFontaine has abruptly stepped down as an NHL team executive. In July 2006, LaFontaine quit the New York Islanders a little over a month after being brought in to serve as senior adviser to owner Charles Wang. In Buffalo, LaFontaines absence was notable this week once the team returned to the ice following the leagues Olympic break. He was not spotted in the press box during the Sabres three-game homestand that began with a 3-2 win over Carolina on Tuesday. That was unusual because LaFontaine had previously spent time watching games from the press-box level in Pegulas box, alongside Murray and several of the owners associates. LaFontaine also missed the teams "Power Play Luncheon" for fans on Friday, when he was scheduled to speak along with fellow former Sabres greats Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Danny Gare. The crowd was informed LaFontaine had the flu. The Sabres have become a top-heavy organization since Regiers dismissal. Pegula created the position of president of hockey operations to hire LaFontaine. And Pegula did so only after LaFontaine declined a chance to become the GM by saying he didnt think he had enough experience for that job. Along with hiring Murray, the Sabres also brought in Hockey Hall of Fame member and long-time executive Craig Patrick to serve as a special adviser. LaFontaine backed the hiring of Murray and Patrick, by referring to both as his "wingers." He also discussed how important it was for him to be building a front-office team that could work together in rebuilding a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and not won a playoff round since reaching the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. Its not clear what effect LaFontaines departure will have on the teams short-term future, including Nolans status. Murray said this week hes already had discussions with Nolan about extending his contract beyond this season. Cheap Air Jordan 17 Retro Black Friday . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. Cheap Air Jordan 8 Retro Black Friday . Hughes, 30, is a former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles, having played in 14 games with the Os in 2010. He played with Class AA Binghamton of the Eastern League in the New York Mets system last season. http://www.airjordandealsblackfriday.com...ro-black-friday. -- Kevin Harvick pulled away on a restart with 47 laps to go and ended Chase Elliotts two-race winning streak in NASCARs Nationwide Series with a dominating victory early Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. Nike Air Jordan Retro From China . 28 with a Vancouver entry for the first time in 10 years and a novel new collective bargaining agreement. Cheap Air Jordan 15 Retro Black Friday .Lets go back to the Avs, who have become one of the funnest teams to watch in this years playoffs.NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Their latest win preserved their chances. Ryan Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:54 remaining to lift the Devils to a 2-1 win over the Capitals on Friday night. New Jersey jumped ahead of Washington into 10th place in the East, just three points behind eighth-place Columbus with five games remaining. "We gave ourselves a chance to stay relevant," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. Tuomo Ruutu also scored for New Jersey, and Cory Schneider made 24 saves. "It was the best win so far this season," the Devils Jaromir Jagr said. "We showed up as a team." Alex Ovechkin scored for Washington, which lost its fifth straight. Jaroslav Halak stopped 29 shots. On the game-winner, Carter was sprung by a leading pass from Marek Zidlicky, and he snapped a shot that eluded Halak. "I saw the shot and it went in," Halak said. "Simple (as that). I dont make the save. To me it was an easy shot and I let it in." The Capitals lamented missed opportunities in the first 40 minutes that prevented them from taking control of a game that was up for grabs. "Its obviously difficult to swallow the loss. We played a good game, had a lot of Grade A chances (and) their goalie made some great saves," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "Two goals against on the road should be enough. We just (didnt) score enough." Ovechkin opened the scoring 10:12 into the game with his 49th of the season. The sequence began with New Jersey defenceman Mark Fayne committing a defensive zone turnover. Nicklas Backstrom found the loose puck and moved it to Mikhail Grabovski, who passed it to Ovechkin for the quick shot. The goal was Ovechkins first even-strength point since Feb. 27. That was all the Capitals would get, as Schneider turned them away at every opportunity. Schneider stuffed Jason Chimera on a breakaway with 1:28 left in the first, and kept the puck out of the net during a second period flurry in which Julien Brouillette and Backstrom had chances from along the crease. "He made a good stop," Chimeera said.dddddddddddd. "If that goes in, its a 2-0 game." Oates added: "You have to give their goalie credit, he made some big saves. We had breakaways, we hit posts, we had a lot of great chances." Ruutu drew New Jersey even with 7:39 left in the second with a redirection of Eric Gelinas point shot. The goal was Ruutus eighth of the season, and his third with the Devils following the March 5 trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. Both the New Jersey and Washington power-play units were ineffective. The Devils were 0 for 5 and Washington finished 0 for 3. New Jersey lost Patrik Elias in the first period after he was ridden into a stanchion by Washingtons Tom Wilson. Elias, New Jerseys second-leading scorer with 51 points, skated seven shifts totalling 3:36. "Youre short guys and everyone is going and everyone is contributing and its a good way to win and hopefully we can build off of that," Travis Zajac said. Both teams have five games remaining this season, and essentially need to win out and hope Eastern Conference wild card-leading Detroit and Columbus and ninth-place Toronto lose their remaining games. The Red Wings lead the Devils by six points, and the Blue Jackets are three ahead of New Jersey. Washington is another point back. "Yeah, definitely," Backstrom said when asked if he thought Washington had to run the table in order to qualify for the playoffs. "I think the best chance for us is to win every game." NOTES: Washington called up D Tyson Strachan from Hershey of the AHL on Friday morning. Strachan entered the game with 24 penalty minutes in 12 NHL games this season, and 56 penalty minutes in 57 AHL games. ... New Jersey scratched Stephen Gionta, Steve Bernier, Tim Sestito, Bryce Salvador, Ryane Clowe and Jon Merril. John Erskine, Jack Hillen, Patrick Wey and Connor Carrick were the Capitals scratches. ... The Washington chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association announced right wing Joel Ward was their nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." ' ' '