Okposo caps Sabres comeback vs. Red Wings
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kyle Okposo scored with 26 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 comeback win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.
Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly also scored for the Sabres (18-18-9). Anders Nilsson made 32 saves.
O'Reilly tied the game at 2-2 with 4:09 remaining in regulation and set up Okposo's game-winning goal.
The game-winner came on the power play with Frans Nielsen in the penalty box for hooking. After receiving the puck in the right circle, O'Reilly spotted Okposo by himself at the top of the crease. Okposo collected the puck and placed a quick backhand shot home for his team-best 14th goal of the year.
Nielsen and Darren Helm scored for the Red Wings (20-20-6), who saw a three-game win streak come to an end. Petr Mrazek made 34 saves.
Nielsen opened the scoring with a power-play goal 9:08 into the game. Nielsen grabbed a bouncing puck from inside the left circle and placed a quick one-timer for his 10th goal of the year.
The Red Wings entered the game with the league's worst power play (11.2 percent success).
Reinhart evened the score 5:06 into the second period with a power-play goal of his own. After grabbing a rebound at the top of the crease, Reinhart kicked the puck to himself before putting home his 10th goal of the year.
Helm gave Detroit a 2-1 lead with 6:22 remaining. Playing for the first time since Nov. 15 after missing 28 games with a shoulder injury, Helm took control of a loose puck in the slot and unleashed a hard wrist shot to the glove side.
O'Reilly evened the score with 4:09 remaining on a mini wrap-around. After curling in front of the net, O'Reilly's backhand shot went into the far side of the net for his ninth goal of the year.
Detroit had the upper hand for most of overtime with plenty of possession in the Sabres zone before faltering late following Nielsen's penalty.
NOTES: D Josh Gorges and LW Nicolas Deslauriers were scratched for the Sabres. Gorges has missed the last seven games with a hip injury. ... LW Drew Miller, RW Tomas Jurco and D Ryan Sproul were scratched for the Red Wings. ... Before the game, the Sabres sent G Linus Ullmark back to Rochester of the American Hockey League. Ullmark had been promoted one day earlier. ... This was the third of four meetings between the two teams this season. Their fourth and final meeting takes place on March 20 in Detroit. ... Detroit is hoping that D Niklas Kronwall (groin) can return Sunday, according to head coach Jeff Blashill.