National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Arizona 4, Buffalo 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 26, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Rob Martell, Dean Morton
Linesmen: Matt MacPherson, Andy McElman
Attendance: 19070

Coyotes 4, Sabres 3 (OT): Sam Gagner scored a power-play goal 56 seconds into overtime as visiting Arizona handed Buffalo its fourth straight loss.

With the Coyotes in the latter stages of a 4-on-3 advantage, Gagner wound up from above the right faceoff circle and blasted a low shot past Matt Hackett to give the Coyotes their second straight overtime win. Gagner and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson each recorded a goal and an assist, David Moss and Jordan Szwarz also scored and Mike Smith made 32 saves in the win.

Tyler Ennis and captain Brian Gionta registered a goal and an assist apiece while blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen added a power-play tally for the Sabres, who are six points behind 29th-place Arizona and have all but assured themselves a top-two pick in the upcoming draft. Hackett turned aside 38 shots in defeat.

Szwarz got the Coyotes on the board 7:55 into the game, gathering Kyle Chipchura's pass from the side boards and beating Hackett to the glove side with a snap shot. Ennis' backhander at 10:49 evened things, and Ristolainen gave the Sabres the lead 8:37 into the second period with a booming slap shot from the point that eluded Smith.

Ekman-Larsson's career-best 21st of the season at 11:29 drew the Coyotes even and Moss restored their lead less than three minutes later with a deft redirection of Gagner's shot that was upheld by video review. But the Sabres capitalized on a power play with 3:37 remaining in the third to forge a tie as Gionta intercepted Arizona captain Shane Doan's poor clearing attempt in the slot and blasted a shot past Smith.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ennis left the game in the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return. ... The Sabres have been outshot in all but six games this season. ... Buffalo went 2-for-5 with the man advantage, its first game with multiple power-play goals since Jan. 30.
Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   Buffalo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 2 Points Tyler Ennis 2
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 Goals Tyler Ennis 1
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 Assists Tyler Ennis 1
Sam Gagner 1 Power Play Goals Brian Gionta 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mike Smith .914 Save Percentage Matt Hackett .905
Mike Smith 32 Saves Matt Hackett 38
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 42 4 1-5 3-5 10 32
Buffalo 35 3 2-5 4-5 10 31
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Sabres have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .222 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .364 after a win and .283 after a loss.