Larsson, Sabres top Wild for 3rd straight win
SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Johan Larsson scored the game-winner in the latter half of third period as the Buffalo Sabres won their third game in a row, beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Tuesday.
Ryan O'Reilly also scored for the Sabres (4-3-2) and Robin Lehner had 27 saves as Buffalo became the first visiting team to win in Minnesota this season.
The Wild (6-3-1), who had shut out the Sabres in Buffalo last week, got a power-play goal from Mikael Granlund and 22 saves from goalie Devan Dubnyk, but fell to 4-1-0 at home.
Larsson, who was originally drafted by Minnesota and played one game for the Wild in the 2012-13 season, went to Buffalo in the 2013 trade that brought Jason Pominville to Minnesota. Crashing to the net, he took a pass from Brian Gionta that deflected off the blade of Granlund's stick, then off the shaft of Larsson's stick and into the Minnesota net. It was Larsson's second goal of the season.
It took the Sabres three shots on goal, and a little less than four minutes, to do what nobody had done in a week -- score a goal on Dubnyk. His career- and franchise- best shutout streak of more than three games came to an end early when O'Reilly got a loose puck in traffic at the top of the crease and was able to slide a low shot between the right post and Dubnyk's skate. It was the fourth goal of the season for O'Reilly, but his first since Oct. 18.
Dubnyk's shutout streak officially ended at 183:16.
The 1-0 advantage for the visitors held up through 20 minutes, with the Sabres holding a 9-6 lead in shots in the first period. The injury-riddled Buffalo lineup got a little thinner in the first period, when starting defenseman Zach Bogosian headed to the locker room and did not return due to a knee injury.
It was late in the second period before the penalty box attendants had their visitor of the night. But when Buffalo defenseman Josh Georges was whistled for slashing, the ensuing power play was the break Minnesota needed to tie the game.
Eric Staal got a shot on Lehner that hit the goalie's leg pads hard and rebounded to the left of the net. There, Granlund was crashing to the crease, and was able to flip a backhand shot into the yawning net, with Lehner still covering the right post. It was the second goal in as many games for Granlund.
NOTES: Sabres rookie RW Hudson Fasching was in attendance but not in uniform Tuesday, as he deals with a groin ailment. The former University of Minnesota star said he was disappointed not to be able to play in his home state. ... Wild F Zac Dalpe underwent successful surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee. Dalpe was hurt in Minnesota's 4-0 win over Dallas on Saturday. He is expected to return to the lineup in 4-6 weeks. ... On Tuesday, Buffalo recalled F Justin Bailey from its AHL affiliate in Rochester, N.Y. Bailey is a Buffalo native and played in the first eight games of the season for the Sabres last year. This is the first time he has been recalled in the 2016-17 season. ... Three Wild D -- Jonas Brodin, Christian Folin and Matt Dumba -- and assistant coach John Anderson are schedule to go on a pheasant hunting outing on Wednesday along with fans who won an on-line contest. This will be the fifth annual Hunt with the Wild event, which is held at a hunting club outside St. Paul.