Alex Tuch scored the game-winning goal in the third period, and James Reimer made 31 saves in his debut with the Sabres as Buffalo won 4-2 against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist, while Bowen Byram recorded two assists for the Sabres, who completed a three-game road trip through California with a perfect record.
Fabian Zetterlund and Luke Kunin scored for the Sharks, who have now lost three games in a row. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves in goal for San Jose.
Tuch gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead at 5:27 of the third period when he scored short-handed. He intercepted a pass from Mikael Granlund and then went on a breakaway, beating Blackwood with a shot through the five-hole from the right circle.
Dylan Cozens tied the game at 2 early in the third period, scoring at 2:07. He received a pass from Dahlin just outside the zone and one-timed it from above the slot, beating Blackwood to the stick side.
Zetterlund gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 9:59 of the first period. William Eklund passed the puck to Jake Walman at the point, and Reimer made a save with his pad. The rebound went to Zetterlund, who scored.
Peyton Krebs tied it up 1-1 at 11:03. Byram intercepted an attempt by Will Smith to send the puck in and passed it to Krebs at the Sharks’ blue line. Krebs then took the puck to the left circle and fired a wrist shot into the top corner of the net.
Kunin gave San Jose a 2-1 lead at 4:07 of the second period, taking a pass from Tyler Toffoli in front of the net and scoring with a backhand shot past Reimer’s right pad.
Reimer kept Buffalo in the game, especially during the first half of the second period when the Sabres struggled to generate offense. He made an incredible stop on Macklin Celebrini, using his left arm to catch a shot while lying on his stomach.
Dahlin sealed the win for Buffalo with an empty-net goal from his own end with one second left in the third period, making it 4-2.
