Arizona 4, Buffalo 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 26, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees:
Rob Martell, Dean Morton
Linesmen:
Matt MacPherson, Andy McElman
Attendance:
19070
By SportsDirect Inc.
Coyotes 4, Sabres 3 (OT): Sam Gagner scored a power-play goal 56 seconds into overtime as visiting Arizona handed Buffalo its fourth straight loss.
With the Coyotes in the latter stages of a 4-on-3 advantage, Gagner wound up from above the right faceoff circle and blasted a low shot past Matt Hackett to give the Coyotes their second straight overtime win. Gagner and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson each recorded a goal and an assist, David Moss and Jordan Szwarz also scored and Mike Smith made 32 saves in the win.
Tyler Ennis and captain Brian Gionta registered a goal and an assist apiece while blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen added a power-play tally for the Sabres, who are six points behind 29th-place Arizona and have all but assured themselves a top-two pick in the upcoming draft. Hackett turned aside 38 shots in defeat.
Szwarz got the Coyotes on the board 7:55 into the game, gathering Kyle Chipchura's pass from the side boards and beating Hackett to the glove side with a snap shot. Ennis' backhander at 10:49 evened things, and Ristolainen gave the Sabres the lead 8:37 into the second period with a booming slap shot from the point that eluded Smith.
Ekman-Larsson's career-best 21st of the season at 11:29 drew the Coyotes even and Moss restored their lead less than three minutes later with a deft redirection of Gagner's shot that was upheld by video review. But the Sabres capitalized on a power play with 3:37 remaining in the third to forge a tie as Gionta intercepted Arizona captain Shane Doan's poor clearing attempt in the slot and blasted a shot past Smith.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ennis left the game in the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return. ... The Sabres have been outshot in all but six games this season. ... Buffalo went 2-for-5 with the man advantage, its first game with multiple power-play goals since Jan. 30.
Top Game Performances
| Arizona |
|
Buffalo |
|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 2 |
Points |
Tyler Ennis 2 |
|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 |
Goals |
Tyler Ennis 1 |
|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 |
Assists |
Tyler Ennis 1 |
|
Sam Gagner 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Brian Gionta 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Mike Smith .914 |
Save Percentage |
Matt Hackett .905 |
|
Mike Smith 32 |
Saves |
Matt Hackett 38 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Arizona
|
42 |
4 |
1-5 |
3-5 |
10 |
32 |
| Buffalo
|
35 |
3 |
2-5 |
4-5 |
10 |
31 |
Upcoming Games
-
Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Sabres have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .222 after a loss.
-
Arizona will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .364 after a win and .283 after a loss.
For more information, contact us