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NHL: Buffalo see off Ottawa but remain bottom of Eastern Conference

Rasmus Ristolainen celebrates his strike for Buffalo
Image: Rasmus Ristolainen celebrates his strike for Buffalo

Eastern Conference bottom-side Buffalo Sabres grabbed a dramatic 5-4 victory over Ottawa Senetors thanks to Matt Moulson’s only goal in the shootout.

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth stopped all three Ottawa shooters too but a fourth win in a row and tenth in 13 games could not lift the hosts off the foot of the division.

Alex Chiasson gave the Senators a 4-3 lead 5:04 into the third period but Sabres forward Brian Flynn tied it 4-4 with 3:29 left when he put a rebound shot past Robin Lehner for his fourth of the season.

The New York Islanders also won at home, 3-2 over an injury-ravaged New Jersey Devils side in the Metropolitan Conference.

Josh Bailey scored the winning goal in the fifth round of the shootout when he fired a shot between the pads of Long Island’s own Keith Kinkaid, who was trying for his first NHL victory in front of family members.

Kinkaid was in line for the win too, until Matt Martin scored made it 2-2 with 4:15 of time left.

The Metropolitan’s top side Pittsburgh Penguins saw off Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 at the Energy Centre.

Tampa suffered after goalie ben Bishop, who made a string of early saves, was withdrawn with a lower back injury and did not return – and Lightning coach Jon Cooper has admitted he is unlikely to return when they travel to Philadelphia Flyers next.  

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