Derek Roy scored the game-winning goal 44 seconds into overtime in a goal-mouth scramble to complete the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-3 comeback victory over the previously undefeated Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Adam Mair and Thomas Vanek also scored goals 46 seconds apart during the third period to help the Sabres erase a 3-1 deficit.
“You’ve got to win a little bit ugly sometimes, and you’ve got to get lucky,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff told reporters. “We’re going to carry every win we can get.”
PHOTO: AP
The Sabres (6-0-1) had also produced a two-goal rally to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 in a shootout two days ago.
“It’s not something we look for — to be down late in the game,” Vanek said. “But it shows good character for the team.”
Minnesota (4-0-1) were seeking to emulate 5-0 starts of the previous two seasons, but went a goal down when Buffalo’s Drew Stafford scored late in the first period.
Benoit Pouliot and Stephane Veilleux then scored during the second period for Minnesota and Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller backhanded the puck from a Brent Burns shot into his own net at the start of the third to give the Wild a 3-1 lead.
The Sabres then responded by beating goaltender Niklas Backstrom three times in a span of less than five minutes extending through regulation into overtime.
Miller had 30 saves for Buffalo, who has yet to lose in regulation this season.
PENGUINS 4, HURRICANES 1
In Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby and Ruslan Fedotenko scored 32 seconds apart as Pittsburgh scored four times in the third period to sink Carolina and notch a third straight win.
The Penguins overcame Carolina rookie Brandon Sutter’s first NHL goal.
Sutter, the ninth member of the Sutter family to play in the NHL, put Carolina up 1-0 in the first — a lead that held up for nearly two-and-a-half periods.
After Crosby and Fedotenko put the home team in front, Maxime Talbot scored Pittsburgh’s third goal in four minutes to make it 3-1. Evgeni Malkin scored into an empty net during the final minute.
AVALANCHE 4, OILERS 1
In Denver, Colorado recorded its fourth straight win by downing Edmonton.
Ian Laperriere scored his first goal of the season and Peter Budaj stopped 25 shots for the Avalanche.
Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny and Cody McLeod added goals for Colorado, the highest-scoring team in the new season.
Shawn Horcoff scored the Oilers’ lone goal, his third of the season. The Oilers have struggled in successive losses after a four-game winning streak.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, BRUINS 2
In Boston, visiting Toronto snapped a five-game losing streak with victory over Boston.
Anton Stralman scored with 9:14 left to break a third-period tie and Vesa Toskala stopped 26 shots for the Maple Leafs.
Mike Van Ryn and Nik Antropov also scored for Toronto, which had lost twice in regulation and three times in shootouts since opening the season with a victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champions Detroit.
Patrice Bergeron scored his first goal in over a year after missing all but 10 games last season due to a severe concussion and broken nose. Blake Wheeler scored 31 seconds later to give Boston a 2-0 lead late in the first period, but the Maple Leafs came back with four straight goals.
FLAMES 5, PREDATORS 3
In Nashville, Tennesee, Jarome Iginla scored three goals and Dion Phaneuf set up two others as Calgary beat Nashville.
Greg Zanon, Jordin Tootoo and Jason Arnott scored for the Predators.
David Moss and Michael Cammalleri had the other Flames goals.
COYOTES 2, CAPITALS 1
In Glendale, Arizona, Mikkel Boedker and Peter Mueller scored four minutes apart early in the third period as Phoenix rallied to beat the Washington Capitals.
The Coyotes have won their opening two home games for the first time since 2000, and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Brooks Laich scored the lone goal for the Capitals, who have lost two straight.
Phoenix tied it 1-1 with 17:31 to go through Boedker, then Mueller made it 2-1 with 13:28 remaining.
STARS 5, ISLANDERS 3
In Uniondale, New York, Mike Ribeiro had a goal and a career-high four assists in Dallas’ victory over the New York Islanders.
Loui Eriksson added a pair of goals, and Brendan Morrow and Krystofer Barch also scored for the Stars, who went 2-1 against the three New York-area teams this week.
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