Flames 4, Sabres 3
CALGARY, Alberta -- Right winger Johnny Gaudreau scored the game-winning goal at 15:10 of the third period as the Calgary Flames edged the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday.
Center Sean Monahan had two goals and an assist for the Flames (12-14-2), who have won four straight games and eight in a row on home ice.
Center Markus Granlund also scored for Calgary, while Gaudreau had an assist for a two-point outing.
Making only his second start since Oct. 28, Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped 27 of 30 shots he faced to improve his record to 3-4-0.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored all three goals for the Sabres (11-15-3), who lost their third straight game, all on the road.
Sabres goalie Chad Johnson made 28 saves in a losing cause.
Calgary outshot Buffalo 10-6 during a scoreless first period. The Flames took the first four shots of the game on Johnson before Hiller was forced to make his first save just past the six-minute mark when he stood his ground to stop a snap shot off the stick of Sabres center Sam Reinhart.
Although the Sabres carried the majority of the play early in the second period, it was the Flames who opened the scoring when Monahan kicked a rebound to his stick before quickly snapping a shot past Johnson at 5:46.
The Flames then went up by a pair with just 7.1 second left in the middle frame when Granlund one-timed a nice backhand pass from defenseman Dougie Hamilton past Johnson.
The Sabres got back into the game thanks to a pair of power-play goals -- both times with Flames center Sam Bennett in the penalty box -- by Ristolainen 2:17 apart early in the third period.
Ristolainen's point shot through traffic found its way into the top corner through traffic at 2:27 before the Finnish defender wristed another long shot through Hiller's legs only three seconds into Bennett's second penalty of the period.
The Flames then retook the lead at 9:25 of the third when Monahan one-timed a perfect cross-crease pass from right winger Johnny Gaudreau past Johnson.
Ristolainen completed his hat trick at 13:13 when he skated out from behind the net and banked a shot off Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman and through Hiller's legs.
Gaudreau then emerged as the hero when he completed a give-and-go with Monahan by snapping a shot through Johnson's five-hole.
NOTES: Although G Jonas Hiller missed Calgary's morning skate due to illness, he was a surprise starter against the Sabres on Thursday night. University of Alberta Golden Bears G Luke Siemens took part in Calgary's game-day skate in place of Hiller. ... Flames D Kris Russell sat out his third straight contest with an upper-body injury, while C/RW Jiri Hudler missed the game due to illness. Calgary's other scratch was C Josh Jooris. ... Sabres G Chad Johnson, who grew up in Calgary as a Flames' fan, made his first-ever NHL start at the Saddledome. ... Buffalo's scratches were C Cal O'Reilly and D Carlo Colaiacovo. ... Flames bench boss Bob Hartley coached his 890th game against the Sabres to move past Punch Imlach and into 31st place on the NHL's all-time list of games coached. ... The Flames will wrap up their five-game homestand when they host the New York Rangers on Saturday.