BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jack Eichel set up two goals in leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 win over Metropolitan Division-leading New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Jason Pominville scored the go-ahead goal 6:49 into the second period by crashing the net and redirecting Eichel’s backhand centring pass from the left wing. Jeff Skinner also scored off a faceoff draw won by Eichel, and Linus Ullmark stopped 24 shots to improve to 3-0-1 in his past four starts.
Ullmark preserved the win by making two significant saves in the third period.
First, he did the splits to get his right pad down to stop Mathew Barzal in front, seven minutes into the period. Then with 7:13 left, Ullmark punched out his blocker to foil Cal Clutterbuck’s backhander on a breakaway attempt.
Johan Larsson sealed the victory with 2:25 left by sweeping the puck into the net after teammate Kyle Okposo’s shot dribbled through goalie Robin Lehner’s legs and into the crease.
The Sabres improved to 3-2-1 six games into a seven-game homestand. Overall, Buffalo improved to 28-21-7 and picked up its 63rd point, one more than last season, when the Sabres became the NHL’s first franchise to finish 31st following the addition of expansion Vegas.
Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders, who had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost in regulation for just the second time in 13 games (9-2-2).
Lehner stopped 19 shots in dropping to 13-3-1 in his past 17 starts, and a stretch in which the former Sabres starter has allowed 27 goals.
The Sabres never trailed, but gave up a 1-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the first period, when defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen’s turnover in his own zone led to Cizikas snapping in a shot inside the right post from the slot.
Buffalo responded with Pominville’s goal. Eichel broke up the left wing and fed a pass into the middle. The puck bounced through defenceman Ryan Pulock and hit Pominville in stride just as he reached the top of the crease.
NOTES: Sabres rookie C Casey Mittelstadt left the pre-game morning skate early with a lower body injury and did not play. … Clutterbuck returned after missing two games with a lower body injury. … Sabres D Zach Bogosian missed his second straight game with a lower body injury. … The Sabres held a pre-faceoff moment of silence in memory of the 50 people who died on the 10th anniversary of Flight 3407’s crash in suburban Clarence Center.
UP NEXT
Islanders: At Columbus on Thursday.
Sabres: Host New York Rangers on Friday.
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John Wawrow, The Associated Press
