National Hockey League
Buffalo 5, Arizona 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, December 4, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Mike Leggo, Dan O'Halloran
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Scott Driscoll
Attendance: 18204

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Left winger Evander Kane and Buffalo's new top line are finding their scoring touch.

Kane had two goals, including the short-handed winner, to lead the Sabres to a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.

"He's probably our hardest worker, our guy who puts the most pressure on teams with how he skates and how he plays," Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. "I just think he's getting opportunities now because of that pressure."

The winning goal came 2:40 into the third period. After center Zemgus Girgensons forced a turnover at center ice, Kane raced in alone on a breakaway and ripped a hard wrist shot to the glove side.

It capped another outstanding performance for Buffalo's new top line, which features Kane, right winger Sam Reinhart and center Ryan O'Reilly.

Kane has six points (four goals, two assists) in his last three games. Reinhart scored Friday night and has three goals in his last three games. O'Reilly has five points (one goal, four assists) in his last five games and has been one of Buffalo's best overall players this season.

The trio was put together for the first time in a Nov. 27 win over Carolina and has been on a roll ever since. The Sabres have won three of their games together (the loss was a 5-4 shootout loss to Detroit) and have scored four or more goals in four consecutive games for the first time since 2007.

"I think we're finally starting to get some chemistry going and really starting to figure each other out," Kane said. "We enjoy playing with one another, so I think it's working out well so far."

Left winger Jamie McGinn and left winger Marcus Foligno also scored for the Sabres (11-12-3). Goalie Chad Johnson made 18 saves.

Left winger Max Domi scored twice for the Coyotes (13-12-1). Goalie Mike Smith made 23 saves.

"We did a lot of things well tonight, but not long enough, and gave away some soft goals," Arizona coach Dave Tippett said.

Domi opened the scoring with 5:36 remaining in the first period on a tremendous one-man effort. After receiving a breakout pass from center Martin Hanzal, the standout rookie raced in alone down the left side of the ice before cutting inside and lifting a backhand shot to the glove side.

Reinhart evened the score at 7:17 of the second period on an impressive individual effort. After taking the puck past the end line, he tucked a backhand deke inside the near post with Smith out of position for his seventh goal of the year.

With Buffalo turning up the pressure, McGinn made it 2-1 with 6:27 remaining in the second period on a one-timer. Rookie Jack Eichel lifted a soft pass to McGinn in the slot and the left winger buried a slap shot between Smith's legs.

Kane scored the winner 2:40 into the third period. After Girgensons forced a turnover at the center of the ice, Kane raced in alone on a breakaway and ripped a hard wrist shot to the glove side.

Domi picked up his second goal 6:42 into the third period to cut Buffalo's lead to 3-2. With several players battling for the puck after a faceoff inside the left circle, the puck fell to Domi, whose wrist shot made it through traffic for his 10th goal of the year.

Foligno made it 4-2 with 8:16 remaining with a goal from a bad angle to the right of the Arizona net.

Smith was not pleased he allowed two goals from behind the end line.

"From my standpoint, I let in two goals from below the goal line," Smith said. "You're not going to win many games (with that). That's on me ... you give up two goals like that, it's kind of deflating."

Coyotes defenseman Nicklas Grossman appeared to pull Arizona back within one moments later, but his goal was overturned after a replay review. Before Grossman's shot found the net, Hanzal's stick interfered with Johnson's glove.

Kane added an empty-net goal with 52 seconds remaining.

NOTES: D Mike Weber was scratched for the Sabres. ... RW Shane Doan, D Connor Murphy and C Dustin Jeffrey were scratched for the Coyotes. Doan has now missed six games due to a lower-body injury but is expected to return in the near future. ... This was Sabres LW Matt Moulson's 500th career game. Moulson, 32, has played for the Sabres, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild in his nine-year career. He entered the NHL with the Kings in the 2007-08 season. ... This is the first of two meetings between the Sabres and Coyotes this season. They meet against in Arizona on Monday, Jan. 18.
Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   Buffalo
Max Domi 2 Points Evander Kane 2
Max Domi 2 Goals Evander Kane 2
Stefan Elliott 1 Assists Carlo Colaiacovo 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Evander Kane 1
Mike Smith .852 Save Percentage Chad Johnson .900
Mike Smith 23 Saves Chad Johnson 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 20 2 0-3 2-2 4 32
Buffalo 28 5 0-2 3-3 6 33
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Edmonton. The Sabres have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .438 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .462 after a loss.