The Buffalo Sabres lifted themselves back to the top of the Atlantic Division on Tuesday night, and did so by matching a franchise record on their home ice. Jeff Skinner stayed hot with a goal 1:41 in to overtime, sending the Sabres past the San Jose Sharks, 3-2. The win is their 10th in a row, tying a franchise record that was set to begin the 2005-2006 season. It is the longest such streak in the NHL since the Columbus Blue Jackets won 16 in a row from November of 2016 to January of 2017. Their last loss came back on November 4th.
The wins have not come easy during this win streak, including Tuesday's, which saw them blow a 2-0 lead in the third period. Nine of the 10 games during the win streak have been by just one goal, including seven after regulation, and three in a row. The Sabres beat the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout on Saturday night after an overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. The game against Montreal was another one that saw them blow a lead late in regulation.
Skinner's game-winning goal was his fifth in the past five games, and team-leading 19th of the season. It was also his second game-winning goal in overtime in the past three games, doing so against Montreal late last week. Nathan Beaulieu also scored for the Sabres, who hold a one-point lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs with 36 points and 17 wins. Carter Hutton got the job done between the pipes, stopping the first 32 shots, and finishing with 36 saves overall. He has a personal eight-game winning streak going on, giving up a total of 15 goals in that span.
The Sharks were coming off an embarrassing 6-0 loss to the Calgary Flames, but rallied to tie Calgary for the lead in the Pacific Division. Joe Pavelski scored twice in the third to tie things and force overtime, giving them 29 points on the season. It was the Sharks' fifth loss after regulation this season.
The Sabres move on to a showdown on the road Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who is also fighting for the top spot in the division. Meanwhile, the Sharks continue their road trip on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The wins have not come easy during this win streak, including Tuesday's, which saw them blow a 2-0 lead in the third period. Nine of the 10 games during the win streak have been by just one goal, including seven after regulation, and three in a row. The Sabres beat the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout on Saturday night after an overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. The game against Montreal was another one that saw them blow a lead late in regulation.
Skinner's game-winning goal was his fifth in the past five games, and team-leading 19th of the season. It was also his second game-winning goal in overtime in the past three games, doing so against Montreal late last week. Nathan Beaulieu also scored for the Sabres, who hold a one-point lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs with 36 points and 17 wins. Carter Hutton got the job done between the pipes, stopping the first 32 shots, and finishing with 36 saves overall. He has a personal eight-game winning streak going on, giving up a total of 15 goals in that span.
The Sharks were coming off an embarrassing 6-0 loss to the Calgary Flames, but rallied to tie Calgary for the lead in the Pacific Division. Joe Pavelski scored twice in the third to tie things and force overtime, giving them 29 points on the season. It was the Sharks' fifth loss after regulation this season.
The Sabres move on to a showdown on the road Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who is also fighting for the top spot in the division. Meanwhile, the Sharks continue their road trip on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
