Kane's OT goal lifts Blackhawks over Sabres
CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane scored 56 seconds into overtime to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
Kane finished with a goal and two assists as the Blackhawks rallied with two goals in the final three minutes of regulation and overtime. Center Artem Anisimov scored twice and Ryan Hartman contributed another goal as Chicago (24-12-5) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Forwards Jack Eichel, Marcus Foligno and Kyle Okposo scored for the Sabres. Buffalo (14-15-9) earned a point on the road but remained winless in its last 10 meetings against the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 17 of 20 shots to improve to 14-8-3.
Sabres goaltender Anders Nilsson drew the loss despite stopping 39 of 43 shots.
Buffalo pulled ahead 3-2 on Eichel's one-timer 1:10 into the third period. The shot marked Eichel's eighth goal in 17 games this season and extended his point streak to five games. Ryan O'Reilly slid a backhand pass across the slot to set up the goal.
Anisimov scored with 2:04 remaining in the third period to even the score at 3. Kane zipped a shot on net, and Anisimov punched in the loose puck near the crease for his second goal of the game and his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
A turnover by Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook helped Buffalo grab a 1-0 lead with 12:39 to play in the first period. Foligno intercepted the puck in the offensive zone and ripped a shot from the left circle for his sixth goal of the season and second in the past four games.
Chicago tied it with 3:40 remaining in the first period. Hartman carried the puck toward the left circle, split a double team and fired a wrist shot above Nilsson's glove for his seventh goal.
Buffalo regained a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal with 1:50 remaining in the second period. Okposo scored on a second effort in front of the net for his team-leading 12th goal.
Eighteen seconds later, Chicago got even. Anisimov spun from his backhand to his forehand and released a rising shot from the right circle that sailed past Nilsson.
NOTES: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 20 and recorded two shots in 15:23 of ice time. Hossa, 37, missed the previous five games because of an upper-body injury. ... Sabres C Ryan O'Reilly returned to action less than two weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said he will limit O'Reilly's playing time in his first game since Dec. 23. ... Blackhawks LW Spencer Abbott made his team debut two days after he was recalled from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Abbott, 28, appeared in one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2013-14 campaign. He spent last season in the Swedish Hockey League. ... Sabres LW William Carrier did not play because of an illness. ... Blackhawks D Brian Campbell was a healthy scratch for the second time in the past four games.