Buffalo leap-frogs over Tampa Bay for most points in the NHL with 3-2 victory.
By Heather Engel / NHL.com Correspondent
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jeff Skinner scored at 1:41 of overtime to give the Buffalo Sabres their 10th straight win, 3-2 against the San Jose Sharks at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
The goal was Skinner’s 19th of the season and 18th in his past 18 games.
Buffalo’s winning streak tied the longest in its history; the Sabres also won 10 straight from Jan. 4-23, 1984, and Oct. 4-26, 2006.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Nathan Beaulieu scored, and Carter Hutton made 36 saves for the Sabres (17-6-2).
Joe Pavelski scored twice, and Martin Jones made 28 saves for San Jose (12-8-5), which has lost two straight.
Ristolainen skated up the left side before putting the puck through his legs, getting around Sharks defenseman Brent Burns and beating Jones glove side to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 14:42 of the second period.
Beaulieu scored to make it 2-0 at 4:14 of the third period, receiving a cross-crease pass from Sam Reinhart and finishing at the left post.
Pavelski cut it to 2-1 at 11:29 on a one-timer off a cross-ice pass from Burns on a 4-on-4. He tied it 2-2 at 16:42, tucking in a wraparound just inside the left post on the power play.
Buffalo (17-6-2) took over the overall lead in the NHL with 36 points while Tampa Bay (17-7-1) was losing 3-1 at home to the Anaheim Ducks to remain 1 point behind.
Up next
The Sabres travel to Tampa Bay on Thursday night to face the Lightning at 7:35 pm.