National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Edmonton 3, Buffalo 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, February 3, 2014
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Eric Furlatt
Linesmen: Greg Devorski, Andy McElman
Attendance: 18531


Oilers 3, Sabres 2: Matt Hendricks scored the go-ahead short-handed goal in the opening minute of the third period as Edmonton sent Buffalo to its seventh consecutive home loss.

Defensemen Jeff Petry and Justin Schultz also had goals to lift the Oilers to their fourth win in five games. Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside a season-high 42 shots and David Perron collected a pair of assists as Edmonton snapped a six-game losing streak at the hands of the Sabres.

Captain Steve Ott had a power-play tally and Drew Stafford netted a short-handed goal for Buffalo, which lost for the ninth time in 11 games (2-6-3) and remained winless at home since Jan. 4. Jhonas Enroth made 25 saves in suffering his 13th straight defeat (0-9-4).

Schultz erased a 2-1 deficit with 3:15 left in the middle session by snapping a wrist shot over Enroth's right shoulder, before Hendricks put Edmonton ahead with a short-handed goal 57 seconds into the third by breaking in alone and beating Enroth. The Sabres had an apparent tying goal by Matt Ellis waved off midway through the period when it was ruled the whistle had blown.

Petry, who was iffy with a sore foot after blocking a shot Saturday, put the Oilers on top 32 seconds into the game, corralling a loose puck and flicking a backhander past Enroth. Ott answered 7 1/2 minutes later with a backhand of a rebound that barely crossed the line before Petry swept it out. Stafford, who was returning from a four-game absence, made it 2-1 at 19:04 with a blast that beat Bryzgalov top shelf for his fourth goal in five games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sabres D Tyler Myers appeared to injure his right leg in the second period, returned briefly but did not come back for the third and was ruled out with a lower-body injury. ... Schultz's tally was the 10th 4-on-4 goal registered by the Oilers this season, a league high. ... Ott's goal was Buffalo's fourth short-handed tally in the last five games and the 10th scored against Edmonton this season - also a league high.
Top Game Performances
 
Edmonton   Buffalo
David Perron 2 Points Steve Ott 1
Matt Hendricks 1 Goals Steve Ott 1
David Perron 2 Assists Zemgus Girgensons 1
N/A Power Play Goals Steve Ott 1
Matt Hendricks 1 Short Handed Goals Drew Stafford 1
Ilya Bryzgalov .955 Save Percentage Jhonas Enroth .893
Ilya Bryzgalov 42 Saves Jhonas Enroth 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Edmonton 28 3 0-5 5-6 14 29
Buffalo 44 2 1-6 5-5 12 41
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Pittsburgh. The Sabres have a W/L % of .133 after a win and .325 after a loss.
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against NY Rangers. The Oilers have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .325 after a loss.