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Reinhart scores in 3rd period to lift Sabres past Red Wings

Sam Reinhart scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and also had an assist as the Buffalo Sabres topped the visiting Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Reinhart's 21st goal off a tap-in of a Jonathan Bernier rebound from a Jack Eichel shot at 57 seconds into the third gave Buffalo its first lead of the night. The Sabres, who also got a goal with an assist from Marcus Johansson and 27 saves from Carter Hutton, never gave up the advantage to win for the second time in three games and end an 0-2-1 home rut.

Darren Helm scored twice for the Red Wings, who have an NHL-low 32 points, but had won two of their previous three contests, including 4-3 in a shootout at Buffalo on Feb. 6.

Detroit took the lead just 27 seconds into the game. Hutton never saw where he stopped Anthony Mantha's shot, but Helm did, and pounced on the puck in the crease and pushed it home.

The Sabres, though, were not down long as Conor Sheary leveled the game just 36 seconds later when he beat Bernier (22 saves) for his eighth goal of the season. Sheary had a chance to give Buffalo the lead early in the second period, when he was awarded a penalty shot after taking a Filip Hronek slash at 1:32. However, Sheary missed wide on the attempt.

Helm and Mantha hooked up again, this time with 12:58 remaining in the second to make it 2-1 for the Red Wings. After controlling the puck behind the Sabres' net, Mantha passed into the slot where Helm sent a backhander past Hutton for his eighth of the season.

Once again, though, Buffalo answered to tie the game with 5:01 left in the second. Johansson, who assisted on Sheary's goal, beat Bernier off a nifty drop pass from Rasmus Dahlin.

Detroit forward Brendan Perlini exited after being incidentally kicked in the face with a skate.

Buffalo, meanwhile, won the season series 3-0-1 over the Red Wings.

--Field Level Media