Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - The Sabres kept tempting fate by taking penalties, and a 2-1 lead turned into a 3-2 deficit against Pittsburgh. They got over it in the third period, and Conor Sheary beat his former team with the overtime winner.
Sheary had two goals and an assist in the must win game. That gives Buffalo two overtime victories over the Penguins.
Buffalo had done a terrific job of killing the calls, until Scott Wilson took a double-minor for high sticking. Linus Ullmark had been spectacular the whole second period, but Patric Hornqvist tipped in a Justin Schultz shot and 1:03 later, Evgeni Malkin found Sidney Crosby for an open one-timer. The goal and an assist gives Crosby 59 points in 38 games against the Sabres.
Buffalo gave up 20 shots in the first period, but many were from distance and I didn't think the Sabres got dominated. Ullmark had one huge save after Jeff Skinner gave the puck away. Crosby found Jack Johnson breaking in, but Ullmark robbed him.
The Sabres got the early lead when Marcus Pettersson turned the puck over. Sam Reinhart set up Jack Eichel alone in the slot and he extended his points streak to seven games.
Brandon Montour paid dividends in his first home game, finding Kyle Okposo down low on the power play. Okposo made a nice pass in front to Sheary and he scored his first goal in 10 games. The assist was Montour's first point as a Sabre.
Skinner has been snake-bitten lately. Matt Murray made a huge save on him from the slot not once, but twice.
The Pens were all over Ullmark in the second and once again, there was no sense of urgency from the blue and gold.
The first close call came when the puck popped straight up in the air. Montour reached behind Ullmark and shoveled the puck out.
Later, Erik Gudbranson was a late coming defenseman down the slot and no one on the Sabres picked him up, but Ullmark made a huge save.
Malkin got everything he had on a shot down the slot, but Ullmark got his mask in the way.
The only chance Buffalo had in the second period was Scott Wilson being stopped on consecutive shots in close by Murray.
Dahlin had a chance to tie the game early in the third period, but Murray got an arm on it. A few minutes later, Buffalo had an even better chance when Skinner stole the puck and sent in a streaking Eichel, but he missed the net.
Buffalo had another great chance when Casey Mittelstadt found Wilson in front, but Murray robbed him again.
The Sabres got a late third period power play. Rasmus Dahlin saw Skinner right the crease, but somehow the puck didn't go in.
With less than five minutes remaining, Buffalo got another good chance when Evan Rodrigues came streaking through the right circle, but he hit the post.
Buffalo kept coming at Murray and Montour found a lane to the net for his goal. Sheary did a good job of tying his man up in front.
Sheary wasn't done because with just 49-seconds left in overtime, he came off the bench and took a screened shot that eluded Murray. Right before the game-winning goal, Evgeni Malkin had hit the post behind Ullmark.
There's no rest for the Sabres who are back in Toronto on Saturday.
