Flames 3, Sabres 1: Red-hot Michael Cammalleri scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and Calgary sent visiting Buffalo to its seventh consecutive defeat.

Joe Colborne also scored and Paul Byron added a short-handed tally as the Flames won for the ninth time in their last 11 home games. Defenseman Chris Butler collected two assists and rookie Joni Ortio turned aside only 13 shots to even his record at 4-4-0.

Drew Stafford scored for the fourth time in six contests for the skidding Sabres, who have managed only six goals during their seven-game skid. Nathan Lieuwen made 23 saves in his first NHL start for Buffalo

The Sabres got off to a good start in the opener of their five-game road trip when Stafford intercepted an awful giveaway by Ben Hanowski behind the net and beat Ortio with a wraparound for his 14th goal. Colborne tied it with 62 seconds left in the middle session, converting off a scramble in front.

Cammalleri broke the deadlock with a tip-in of Butler's shot with 10:44 to play with his seventh goal in nine goals and Byron added an insurance tally, scoring on a breakaway with Buffalo on the power play. It was Calgary's 12th short-handed goal of the season.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Flames C Matt Stajan was back in the lineup for the first time since March 1 following the death of his infant son earlier this month. ... Stafford's first-period goal marked only the 10th time in 69 games that the Sabres led after the opening 20 minutes. ... Cammalleri reached 20 goals for the sixth time in nine seasons.