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Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy scored 3rd period goals as the Sabres came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 in a shootout. Buffalo has now not lost in regulation at the First Niagara Center in 12 straight games, dating back to December 10th.
With nearly two minutes remaining in the opening period, Dallas got out to a 1-0 lead on the power play when an Alex Goligoski slapshot was deflected into the top corner of the net by Michael Ryder. Buffalo headed to the dressing room trailing by a goal despite putting together some decent scoring chances on Kari Lehtonen.
The Stars netminder continued his solid play into the 2nd period, particularly during an early Buffalo man advantage. Drew Stafford, trying to tie up the game for the Sabres, was denied point-blank by Lehtonen twice on the same play. Stafford was again turned away by Lehtonen later in the period. Entering the Dallas zone, Tyler Ennis sent a nifty backhand spin pass to Stafford, who ripped a shot that trickled through Lehtonen's pads, but just wide of the net.
Dallas took a 2-0 lead a little over four minutes into the final frame on Tomas Vincour's 2nd goal of the season. Jamie Benn dug a loose puck out from the behind the Buffalo net and flipped in front for Vincour, who wristed it by Ryan Miller. The Sabres struck back almost immediately on the power play with their first goal of the night. Less than a minute after Vincour's goal, Vanek redirected a Jason Pominville shot into the Stars' net to make it a 2-1 game.
Vanek's goal seemed to motivate the Sabres, who spent much of the rest of the period buzzing around the Dallas crease, coming up with several quality scoring chances. With less than a minute to play in regulation Roy finally beat Lehtonen, shoveling a loose puck past the sprawling Stars goaltender and into the net. Tyler Myers got the play started with a blueline blast that squirted free of Lehtonen and eventually found its way onto the stick of Roy, who converted for his 2nd goal in 3 games.
In overtime, Vanek had a chance to win it for Buffalo in the final seconds, but failed to finish off a quick 2-on-0 break with Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres' defenseman stole the puck and dropped a pass back in front of the crease, however Vanek fired it directly into Lehtonen's right pad.
Buffalo jumped out to the early advantage in the ensuing shootout when Brad Boyes' opening shot found the back of the net, however Jamie Benn pulled the Stars even a few shooters later when he cut wide and beat Miller. Vanek put a move on Lehtonen, but rang the next Sabres opportunity off the crossbar. Dallas failed to capitalize as both Mike Ribeior and Vincour were kept out of the Buffalo net by Miller. After Vincour was stopped, Gerbe finally rattled one home and Michael Ryder shot his attempt wide to seal the 3-2 victory for the Sabres.
Buffalo has now picked up 11 out of a possible 12 points in its last 6 games (5-0-1) and leapfrogged from 13th to 11th place in the Eastern Conference, still 8 points back of 8th place Toronto. The Sabres are right back at it on Saturday, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00 p.m. Hear the call with Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale on WGR SportsRadio 550.
First Period:
Goals
17:53 - (DAL) Michael Ryder (20) (PPG) (Alex Goligoski, Loui Eriksson)
Penalties
17:15 - (BUF) Cody McCormick (roughing - 2 min.)
Second Period:
Goals
None
Penalties
0:42 - (DAL) Alex Goligoski (hooking - 2 min.)
10:25 - (BUF) Jordan Leopold (high-sticking - 2 min.)
19:12 - (BUF) Derek Roy (tripping - 2 min.)
Third Period:
Goals
4:17 - (DAL) Tomas Vincour (2) (Jamie Benn, Steve Ott)
5:07 - (BUF) Thomas Vanek (20) (PPG) (Jason Pominville, Christian Ehrhoff)
19:21 - (BUF) Derek Roy (11) (Drew Stafford, Tyler Myers)
Penalties
4:44 - (DAL) Radek Dvorak (holding - 2 min.)
8:33 - (BUF) Ville Leino (holding - 2 min.)
Shootout
BUF - Brad Boyes - GOAL
DAL - Loui Eriksson - MISS
BUF - Jason Pominville - MISS
DAL - Jamie Benn - GOAL
BUF - Thomas Vanek - MISS
DAL - Mike Ribeiro - MISS
BUF - Tyler Ennis - MISS
DAL - Tomas Vincour - MISS
BUF - Nathan Gerbe - GOAL
DAL - Michael Ryder - MISS
Goaltenders
Ryan Miller - (BUF) - 24 saves, 26 shots
Kari Lehtonen - (DAL) - 28 saves, 30 shots
Power Play
BUF - 1 for 2
DAL - 1 for 4
Three Stars
1. Nathan Gerbe
2. Jason Pominville
3. Alex Goligoski