Sabres 4, Islanders 3 (SO)
Thomas Vanek and Tyler Ennis scored in the shootout as visiting Buffalo edged New York to avoid its worst start in franchise history.
Ennis, Vanek and Marcus Foligno scored in regulation for the Sabres (1-6-1), who won for the first time in eight games to start the season. Ryan Miller stopped 41 shots and robbed Frans Nielsen and John Tavares in the shootout to cap another solid effort.
Nielsen, Matt Moulson and Matt Martin tallied for the Islanders, who fell to 1-1-1 at home. Tavares assisted on Moulson’s goal and Evgeni Nabokov made 31 saves.
Tavares drew a penalty on Sabres enforcer Steve Ott 7:47 into the third period and his shot caromed off Moulson and past Miller 57 seconds later to give New York a 3-2 lead. Foligno spun and fired a wrist shot from the high slot that fooled Nabokov with 2:01 remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
Nielsen opened the scoring with a wrist shot to the top right corner 13:11 into the first period. Ennis tied the game 5:24 into the second, jamming home a puck that trickled between Nabokov’s legs. Martin restored the Islanders’ lead 2:44 later, but Vanek knotted the contest again 1:11 after that by finishing a crisp passing play on the power play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Miller is 1-4-0 despite entering the contest with a 2.29 goals-against average and .941 save percentage. … Buffalo finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage and is 3-for-29 on the season. … Islanders RW Michael Grabner led all players with eight shots, but finished without a point and a minus-2 rating.