Sabres Grab a Close 5-4 Win from Sharks

Buffalo Sabres fans had something to cheer about when they woke up this morning as Buffalo was able to outscore the league’s 3rd overall team, the San Jose Sharks. This was a close game from the get go and Buffalo was finally able to out work their opponent and get the win in a shootout.

If you were awake to see the game on the east coast, ending at 1:30 am, you say a great game by the Sabres, the first real team effort. We were still out shot 51-36, but we were able to put a solid effort on the ice and San Jose just didn’t play like they usually do. Buffalo handed San Jose their third straight loss after they were off to a great season, winning 10 out of their first 12 games. Buffalo now improves to 3-13-1.

The first period, as usual, was all San Jose. They out shot Buffalo 16-10 and was able to get on the scoreboard first with a nice backhand shot from Marty Havlat, playing in just his third game from an off season surgery.

The second period was all Buffalo as they were able to grab two goals and go ahead in the game 2-1. Just two minutes into the period, Buffalo’s Drew Stafford scored his second of the season after a nice pass from Jamie McBain. Just three minutes later, Cody McCormick got his first goal of the season and Stafford was able to assist on that goal, bringing his best game of the season.

The third period seemed to be where all the action was, and where I was no longer able to stay awake to watch it. There were 5 goals scored in this period and 4 within the first 8 minutes. Buffalo scored first with a power play goal from Tyler Ennis, only his second goal of the season. San Jose grabbed the next two goals to tie the game up at 3. Tyler Kennedy and Tomas Hertl scored 1:10 apart to get San Jose back in this game. Buffalo went back in the lead a few minutes later with a slapshot from Henrik Tallinder, his second of the season. With just 4 minutes to go in the period, San Jose’s Tommy Wingels scored his 4th of the season and tied the game back up at 4 and sent it into overtime.

No goals were scored in overtime but there was one questionable call when Tyler Kennedy’s shot went off the post and it was thought that the puck went in quick and bounced back out but it was ruled no goal so onto a shootout we went. San Jose’s only goal in the shootout came in the first round with goal by Logan Couture. Buffalo’s two goals came from Matt Moulson and Cody Hodgson.

Sabres Ryan Miller made 47 saves while Sharks goalie Antti Niemi made 32 saves. Buffalo continues their California road trip with a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday while the Sharks stay at home to take on the Vancouver Canucks, also on Thursday.