Buffalo Sabres get third straight over Dallas Stars 3-2 in shootout -NHL Update
Buffalo seems to be on the right track as the Sabres grabbed their third straight win, this time over Dallas Stars, 3-2, in a shootout decider on Friday night, February 10, 2012, at the sold-out First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, United States.
After an undecided overtime extension, Dallas managed to score on only one of its five attempts, while Buffalo’s Nathan Gerbe made the game-winner on Stars' fourth attempt to take the much deserved win.
Despite the three straight wins, Buffalo Sabres still stand at number 11with 54 points and a 24-24-6 record.
It will definitely take much more than where they are now, if the Eastern Conference club wants to get anywhere near the playoffs.
Dallas, on the other hand, are at number nine, one point away from tying with eighth placed Phoenix Coyotes.
Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames are also sitting with 58 points, making it even tougher on the team that once reigned atop the West when the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season kicked off.
Michael Ryder scored his game opener with less than three minutes remaining in the first period for his 20th of the season on Stars' initial power play opportunity as Buffalo’s Cody McCormick was booked for roughing Steve Ott.
After a scoreless second period, Dallas came out strong once again as Tomas Vincour extended the Stars lead, 2-0, with his second of the year at 4:17, but as Sabres were determined to get back, Thomas Vanek put them on the scoreboard less than a minute later.
With less than 40 seconds to go, Dallas was expected to take the two points easily, but Buffalo was not done yet as Derek Roy fired off the equaliser at 19:21 of the third and final period, forcing the game into an overtime decider, and then further to a shootout.
Dallas managed to grab the win in the shootout, hence claiming the much needed 2 points.
Dallas will be hoping to bounce back once they return home to face the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday while Buffalo Sabres have a lot of ground still left to cover and have the time to do so as they host Tampa Bay Lightning a day earlier on Saturday.
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