The Buffalo Sabres Earn Their First Win In a Shootout

They made things far more difficult than it needed to be, but the Buffalo Sabres got off the schnide in Carolina Tuesday night.

Zegmus Girgensons’ nifty backhand beat Cam Ward in the eighth round of a shootout as the Sabres overcame blowing a two goal in the third period to defeat the Hurricanes in extra time, 4-3 for their first win in four tries this season.

Matt Moulson scored for Buffalo in the first round before Ward stopped Buffalo’s next six attempts, including a fantastic pad save on Brian Gionta. Meanwhile, Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth turned away Carolina’s final five attempts after Chris Terry snuck one past Enroth in the second round.

Buffalo was in command for much of the game and led 3-1 in the third period before Terry scored at 12:11 to cut the deficit to one and Zach Boychuck tied it with 1:48 left in regulation.

Boychuck’s shot plucked the under the crossbar and subsequently popped out of the net back into play, and with a ref not in position was originally ruled no goal.  However, at the next stoppage the play was reviewed and quickly determined a goal.

Although it ultimately didn’t cost them tonight, the third period continues to be catastrophic for Buffalo.  After pelting 23 pucks on net at Ward through the first two periods the Sabres were outshot 11-2 in the third.

They’ve now been outscored 8-1 and outshot 61-49 in the third period through four games.

Marcus Foligno returned after missing yesterday’s loss to Anaheim with an upper body injury to score goals at 12:07 of the third and 2:54 into the third as the Sabres built a two goal lead. It was the fourth multi-goal game of Foligno’s young career.

Torrey Mitchell also scored for Buffalo, notching his first goal of the season in the second period to break a 1-1 tie.

If you’re occupying the 2014-15 season hoping and praying for non-stop losing, it was a bad night. Not only did the Sabres win, but the New York Islanders defeated the Rangers on the road to start their season with three straight victories.  As all lottery ping pong ball wishers know, the Sabres own New York’s first-round pick next year.

For the rest of Sabres fans, it was a nice gut-check win just one day after an embarrassingly bad effort in a four goal home loss to Anaheim that had Sabres head coach Ted Nolan visibly frustrated during his post-game press conference.

Girgensons expressed the Sabres desire for a better showing to Sabres reporters after Tuesday’s win.

“This game was about finding something deep down inside the heart, a will to win.” he said.

Buffalo will try for consecutive wins when they return home to host Florida on Friday.