Ed Ronan scored 6:24 into overtime as the Buffalo Sabres avoided a four-game sweep in their playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers with a 5-4 victory Friday night.

Ronan got the rebound of a shot by Garry Galley and lifted it over falling Flyers goalie Garth Snow. Derek Plante had a goal and three assists for the Sabres.The Flyers still lead the best-of-7 series 3-1, with Game 5 to be played Sunday in Buffalo.

Buffalo played without MVP candidate Dominik Hasek, who was expected to make his first start since spraining his right knee earlier in the playoffs, and since serving a three-game suspension for attacking a reporter.

Hasek, a finalist for both the Hart and Vezina trophies, proclaimed himself ready to play Thursday, but, according to the Sabres, the goalie re-injured his knee during Friday morning's practice.

The last-minute scratch will only fuel the controversy surrounding Hasek, who went after Buffalo News hockey columnist Jim Kelley after Kelley suggested Hasek was unraveling under the pressure of carrying the talent-thin Sabres all season.

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Avalanche 3, Oilers 2, OT

At Edmonton, Alberta, Claude Lemieux scored his league-high ninth playoff goal 8:35 into overtime as Colorado took a 3-1 series lead.

Colorado, the defending Stanley Cup champions, can close out the series - and Canada's lone remaining playoff representative - in Game 5 Sunday in Denver.

Lemieux, whose 17 postseason points are second to teammate Joe Sakic's 18, stuffed a loose puck underneath Oilers goalie Curtis Joseph.

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