National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Buffalo 2, San Jose 1
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 25, 2014
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Tim Peel, Dennis LaRue
Linesmen: Mark Wheler, Brian Mach
Attendance: 17370

Sabres 2, Sharks 1: Cody Hodgson and Nicolas Deslauriers scored 2:14 apart early in the third period as visiting Buffalo earned its first regulation win of the season.

Michal Neuvirth turned aside 29 shots for the Sabres, who halted a four-game skid during which they recorded just one goal. Buffalo has won its last four visits to San Jose and is 9-1-0 against the Sharks since 2007-08.

Defenseman Brent Burns netted the lone goal for San Jose, which has dropped four straight in regulation following a 4-0-1 start. Alex Stalock made 13 saves in defeat.

The teams plodded through an opening period in which they combined for just 12 shots. The Sharks had the best scoring chance in the middle session, but Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers smartly broke up a 2-on-1 rush involving Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to help preserve the scoreless tie.

Buffalo finally hit the scoresheet 3:43 into the third, as Hodgson gathered a carom off San Jose defenseman Scott Hannan's skate and fired a backhand shot past Stalock for his first goal since April 12. Deslauriers doubled the lead at 5:57 on a rebound of Cody McCormick's shot that Stalock couldn't corral, and Burns answered just 13 seconds later with a low wrist shot from the side boards that fooled Neuvirth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sabres rookie C Sam Reinhart earned his first NHL point with an assist on Deslauriers' goal. ... Buffalo has scored 10 goals through its first nine games, matching its pace from a season ago. ... The Sabres recorded 31 blocked shots compared to 15 by the Sharks.
Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   San Jose
Nicolas Deslauriers 1 Points Brent Burns 1
Nicolas Deslauriers 1 Goals Brent Burns 1
Zemgus Girgensons 1 Assists Brent Burns 0
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Michal Neuvirth .967 Save Percentage Alex Stalock .867
Michal Neuvirth 29 Saves Alex Stalock 13
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 15 2 0-3 1-1 4 16
San Jose 30 1 0-1 3-3 6 33
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Sharks have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .400 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Sabres have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .250 after a loss.