Sabres 6, Flames 3
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Left winger Marcus Foligno had a goal and two assists to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Center Jack Eichel, left winger Johan Larsson, left winger Evander Kane, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and left winger Nicolas Deslauriers also scored for the Sabres (26-31-8). Goalie Robin Lehner made 26 saves.
Center Mikael Backlund, defenseman Dougie Hamilton and center Sean Monahan scored for the Flames (26-34-4), who have lost seven straight games. Goalie Jonas Hiller made 29 saves.
Larsson scored the game-winner with 10:29 remaining. Sabres captain Brian Gionta found Larsson wide open with his back to the Calgary net and the winger lifted a backhand into the top of the net. It was his fourth goal of the season.
Eichel gave Buffalo some insurance with a power play goal with 7:14 remaining. Shortly after a 5-on-3 opportunity came to an end, Eichel's long shot from the point made it through traffic to make it 5-3. It was his 18th goal of the season.
The Flames had issues with penalties all night and finished with eight.
Backlund opened the scoring 3:28 into the second period. Backlund pounced on a rebound to the left of the Sabres net and flung the puck into the short side of the net.
Ristolainen evened the score midway through the second on a low one-timer from the right circle. It was Ristolainen's first goal since Jan. 12, ending a goal drought that lasted 21 games.
The floodgates opened late in the second. Foligno made it 2-1 with a highlight-reel goal with 4:03 remaining as he swept past Flames defenseman TJ Brodie for a breakaway and ripped a high wrist shot into the top corner of the net.
The Flames tied it up 15 seconds later on Hamilton's 10th goal of the year. The defenseman lifted a hard wrist shot past Lehner.
Deslauriers made it 3-2 with 2:46 remaining in the second in similar fashion. Deslauriers beat Hiller with a hard wrist shot high to the glove side.
Monahan evened the score 3:56 into the third by driving hard to the net. Monahan tucked a forehand shot past Lehner's left pad for his 21st goal of the year.
Buffalo dominated the third period, outshooting Calgary 13-9.
Kane added an empty-net goal with 1:31 remaining.
NOTES: Sabres D Cody Franson (neck) was scratched. Coach Dan Bylsma said earlier Thursday that Franson recently suffered a setback. Bylsma said there were "some other issues" going on with Franson in addition to the neck issue. "I would say it kind of has gone the wrong way for him," Bylsma said. "When he skated in Anaheim (last week), he felt real close to being ready to go." ... G Niklas Backstrom was scratched for the Flames. Backstrom was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline. ... This was the second and final meeting between the teams this season.