Brian Gionta assists on game-winning goal as Buffalo wins, 4-3.
DETROIT, MI. — The Buffalo Sabres finally were able to give head coach Dan Blysma his 300th coaching victory as they held off the Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, on Tuesday night in the Motor City.
The win snapped the Sabres’ 4-game winless streak.
Evander Kane put the Sabres in front off an assist from Greece native Brian Gionta and Zach Bogosian.
Sam Reinhart made it 2-0 with his 8th tally of the season as Rasmus Ristolainen and Jack Eichel drew assists.
In the second period, 22 seconds after the Red Wings scored, Eichel netted his 6th goal of the season to restore the Sabres’ 2-goal advantage. But the Red Wings got that one back a few minutes later.
Detroit knotted the contest 3-3 with a power play goal, by former Sabre Thomas Vanek, midway through the third period.
However, Kane answered 2 mintues later with his second goal of the contest to put the Sabres back in front, 4-3. Team captain Gionta picked up his second assist, and 9th of the season, on the game-winning marker.
The Sabres were physical against the Red Wings, and there were a couple of fights as well.
Despite being outshot 43-22, Sabres netminder Robin Lehner turned in another strong performance as he made 40 saves to earn the victory.
Buffalo was playing without assistant captain Ryan O’Reilly, who underwent a successful appendectomy on Christmas Day and is expected to need between 10 and 14 days of rest before he returns to the ice, according to Bylsma.
The Sabres return to the KeyBank Center on Thursday night for a date against the Boston Bruins.