Sabres 2, Sharks 1
Cody Hodgson and Nicolas Deslauriers scored 2:14 apart early in the third period as visiting Buffalo earned its first regulation win of the season.
Michal Neuvirth turned aside 29 shots for the Sabres, who halted a four-game skid during which they recorded just one goal. Buffalo has won its last four visits to San Jose and is 9-1-0 against the Sharks since 2007-08.
Defenseman Brent Burns netted the lone goal for San Jose, which has dropped four straight in regulation following a 4-0-1 start. Alex Stalock made 13 saves in defeat.
The teams plodded through an opening period in which they combined for just 12 shots. The Sharks had the best scoring chance in the middle session, but Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers smartly broke up a 2-on-1 rush involving Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to help preserve the scoreless tie.
Buffalo finally hit the scoresheet 3:43 into the third, as Hodgson gathered a carom off San Jose defenseman Scott Hannan's skate and fired a backhand shot past Stalock for his first goal since April 12. Deslauriers doubled the lead at 5:57 on a rebound of Cody McCormick's shot that Stalock couldn't corral, and Burns answered just 13 seconds later with a low wrist shot from the side boards that fooled Neuvirth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Sabres rookie C Sam Reinhart earned his first NHL point with an assist on Deslauriers' goal. ... Buffalo has scored 10 goals through its first nine games, matching its pace from a season ago. ... The Sabres recorded 31 blocked shots compared to 15 by the Sharks.