Sabres 2, Senators 1 (SO)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons scored in the 10th round of the shootout and also scored in regulation to lead the Sabres to a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night.
The shootout was tied at three goals apiece before Girgensons beat Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner with a backhand deke and tucked the puck inside of the right post.
Ottawa's 10th shooter, right winger Erik Condra, then saw his wrist shot stopped by Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller. Miller had 35 saves in regulation and several key stops during overtime.
Buffalo (7-22-2) ended a three-game losing streak.
Left winger Milan Michalek scored in regulation for the Senators (12-14-6). Lehner had 35 saves.
The Senators opened the scoring 6:25 into the game on a well executed two-on-one rush. Left winger Cory Conacher found Michalek streaking toward the net, and Michalek made no mistake by firing the puck past Miller for his fifth goal of the season.
Buffalo tied the game at 1-1 with just under seven minutes left in the second period after a poor play by Lehner. Following a harmless wrist shot by Henrik Tallinder, Girgensons out-hustled Ottawa defenseman Joe Corvo and slapped the puck toward the net from a difficult angle. It went between the legs of the Ottawa goalie, who was standing in front of the net. It was Girgensons' third goal of the year.
The Sabres thought they had taken a 2-1 lead with 4:30 left in the second period, but the referees ruled it was no goal after a lengthy discussion. Buffalo defenseman Jamie McBain's backhand attempt landed in the Ottawa crease, and the puck was accidentally tipped into the net by Ottawa captain Jason Spezza. The on-ice officials convened at center ice, and the play was eventually reviewed by the NHL, which confirmed the decision. The NHL said in an email that the play was stopped due to a delayed penalty on Spezza.
Buffalo and Ottawa each registering 36 shots on net.
NOTES: D Eric Gryba and C Mike Hoffman were scratched for Ottawa. ... D Mike Weber and LW Ville Leino were scratched for Buffalo. Sabres interim coach Ted Nolan said earlier Tuesday that he wasn't pleased with Leino's performance in practice on Monday. Leino responded by telling members of the media that he "wasn't sure" what Nolan wants from him. ... This was the second of five meetings between the Sabres and Senators this season. Ottawa won the first meeting between the two clubs, 1-0, in Buffalo on Oct. 4. ... This was the 118th game all-time between Buffalo and Ottawa.
