National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Buffalo 6, Vancouver 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 26, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Rob Martell, Marc Joannette
Linesmen: Tim Nowak, Derek Amell
Attendance: 19070

Sabres 6, Canucks 3: Torrey Mitchell snapped a 28-game drought with a pair of goals, including the go-ahead tally with 7:17 left in the third period, as Buffalo toppled visiting Vancouver.

Captain Brian Gionta recorded a goal and two assists while Chris Stewart scored one and set up another for the Sabres, who have won back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros and Brian Flynn also scored, Matt Moulson contributed two assists and Michal Neuvirth turned aside 28 shots for Buffalo.

Shawn Matthias, Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin scored while defenseman Dan Hamhuis registered two assists for the Canucks, who finished their road trip with a 3-2-0 record. Eddie Lack made 18 saves for the Canucks in his second straight start since Ryan Miller went down with an injury.

Mitchell finished a give-and-go with Moulson 13:07 into the game to open the scoring, but Matthias tied it 62 seconds later with a shot from the right faceoff circle. Hansen’s screen shot from the high slot 5:42 into the second gave the Canucks the lead before Stewart evened things on a breakaway at 8:59.

Meszaros put Buffalo in front with a blast 4:46 into the third and Sedin whipped a wrist shot from the slot past Neuvirth on the glove side 2:41 later to again even the contest. Mitchell was all alone at the bottom of the left circle to sweep in a rebound while Flynn and Gionta added late tallies to seal it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Daniel and captain Henrik Sedin (assist) extended their respective point streaks to six games. … The Sabres placed C Zemgus Girgensons (foot) on injured reserve and scratched leading scorer Tyler Ennis (lower body) as both were injured Tuesday against Columbus. … Matthias set a career high with his 15th goal, topping the 14 he had with Florida in 2012-13. … Buffalo D Zach Bogosian played his 400th NHL contest.
Top Game Performances
 
Vancouver   Buffalo
Dan Hamhuis 2 Points Brian Gionta 3
Jannik Hansen 1 Goals Torrey Mitchell 2
Dan Hamhuis 2 Assists Brian Gionta 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Eddie Lack .783 Save Percentage Michal Neuvirth .903
Eddie Lack 18 Saves Michal Neuvirth 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vancouver 31 3 0-0 1-1 2 35
Buffalo 24 6 0-1 0-0 0 26
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Sabres have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .250 after a loss.
  • Vancouver will play their next game at home against St. Louis. The Canucks have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .680 after a loss.