The Buffalo Sabres rallied from a first period 0-2 deficit on Tuesday to down the visiting San Jose Sharks, 4-3 in overtime.
Jack Eichel struck for two goals, including the game-winner at 3″13 of extra time.
“I thought we did a great job of possessing it, not letting them get it at all,” Eichel said. “They have some world-class players over there, so making them defend is the best way to keep the puck out of their hands and from making plays.
“[Rasmus Ristolainen] just gets a good shot on net. The puck was just loose. I was trying to find it and luckily I was able to bang it home.”
Carter Hutton made 25 saves to get the win.
“The power play today, the goal was critical,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. “It really shifted the game back our way, changed the momentum in every way.”
The Sabres rallied for a 3-2 lead in the third period until Erik Karlsson knotted the game midway through the frame.
“We’re playing OK but still not winning. That’s what this business is about, it’s about winning games,” Karlsson said. “Especially when we feel like we’re playing decent, we need to find ways to win games and right now we’re not doing that. We’ve got to figure that out. We got a point, but by no means should we be satisfied with tonight’s game.”
Sam Reinhart and Jeff Skinner scored in regulation for Buffalo.
“We have a lot of trust in the system, first off. It’s not too hard on a night like tonight when I felt there was a lot we were doing well in the first period,” Reinhart said. “You kind of have to take a second in the intermission to realize the talent they have over there. They did make us pay, but I did like the start of the second, how we came out.”
Dylan Gambrell and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored for San Jose.
[WATCH:Â All Sharks vs. Sabres highlights]
Martin Jones made 25 saves in the loss.
“Just an inexcusable change. Two guys that stayed out too long looking for offense. It’s a selfish play that doesn’t need to be part of this team, so we’ll figure that out,” Logan Couture said of the confusion at the bench on the OT goal.
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