Couture's clutch goal saves the day in Sharks' win over Sabres

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BOX SCORE

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Logan Couture scored with 3:52 remaining in the third period Saturday, sending the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Joonas Donskoi and Chris Tierney also scored for the Sharks to back goalie Aaron Dell, who made 30 saves. San Jose went 3-2-0 on a five-game road trip and recorded its first regulation win in Buffalo since Dec. 2, 2005.

Ryan O'Reilly and Jason Pominville had goal for the Sabres, and Robin Lehner stopped 28 shots. Buffalo has lost two straight and is 1-3-1 at home.

Couture scored the winner on a wrist shot from the left circle that went over Lehner's shoulder. Tierney had made it 2-2 with 11.6 seconds left in the second period, scoring from the edge of the crease on a rebound from Melker Karlsson's shot.

Donskoi scored nine seconds after skating out of the penalty box to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead nine minutes into the game. Donskoi got a breakaway after Sabres defenseman Matt Tennyson missed a pass at the blue line and beat Lehner with a wrist shot to the top corner for his third of the season.

The Sabres appeared to tie it late in the first period, but Jack Eichel's goal was disallowed after the Sharks challenged for goaltender interference. Replays showed that Buffalo's Sam Reinhart skated through the crease and made contact with Dell's blocker before Eichel shot.

Buffalo evened the score game on O'Reilly's power-play goal 2:55 into the second period. Kyle Okposo set up O'Reilly for his fourth of the year on a slap shot from the left circle. The goal ended a streak of 21 straight penalties killed for the Sharks.

Pominville scored his sixth goal to put the Sabres ahead 2-1 with 5:09 left in the second period. Eichel chipped the puck back to the high slot, where Pominville wristed a shot between Dell's blocker and the near post.

NOTES: Sharks C Joe Thornton had a five-game point streak end. He entered the game tied with Jari Kurri for 20th on the NHL's career points list with 1,398. . Sabres D Justin Falk did not play but is nearing a return, coach Phil Housley said. Falk sustained an undisclosed injury at the end of training camp. . The Sharks went 0 for 3 on the power play and are now 2 for 19 in road games this season. . San Jose has played nine of its first 10 games agains Eastern Conference opponents. . Sabres star C Jack Eichel turned 21 on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Sharks: Host Maple Leafs on Monday night.

Sabres: At Arizona on Thursday night.

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