Controversial Goal Again Jolts Sabres

PHILADELPHIA — John LeClair’s goal that shouldn’t have been--through the mesh of the net and not through Dominik Hasek--helped the Philadelphia Flyers beat the snakebitten Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, Friday night.

The Flyers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Eric Desjardins scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, but the focus will be on the goal that wasn’t.

It was another embarrassing replay blunder for the NHL, and an unthinkably cruel twist for the Sabres, who were beaten in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals last year on Brett Hull’s goal with his foot in the crease.

LeClair blasted a slap shot from Hasek’s left side for a second-period power-play goal that tied the score, 1-1. A close-up television replay from behind the net showed that LeClair’s goal went in on the outside of the post.