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Sabres 7, Coyotes 2: Sabres Overtake Top Spot In Eastern Conference
Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Jason Pominville had two goals and an assist as the Buffalo Sabres beat up the Phoenix Coyotes, 7-2.
Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht each had a goal and two assists while Ryan Miller made 24 saves for the Sabres, who have won eight of their last 10 and have gotten at least a point in 11 straight games.
Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan each had a goal for the Coyotes, who had won their previous two games. Ilya Bryzgalov started in net and was charged with three goals on 13 shots before being pulled early in the second. Jason LaBarbera finished the game between the pipes and stopped 14-of-18 shots.
The Sabres got the only goal of the first period and they did so just 2:37 in as Vanek sent a pass from the left boards to the high slot where Tyler Myers blasted a slap shot that beat Bryzgalov cleanly.
Chris Butler's first goal of the season just 2:44 into the second period was followed by Patrick Kaleta's goal from a sharp angle at the right side just 1:17 later for a 3-0 Buffalo lead as the team chased Bryzgalov from the net.
Phoenix got a goal back with 5:53 to play in the second as Doan banged the puck out of the air as it was behind Miller.
Buffalo, though, answered just 24 seconds later as Pominville's one-timer from the right circle got past LaBarbera and Hecht's wrister from the high slot hit off of Scottie Upshall and went into the net with 1:37 left in the middle frame for a 5-1 lead.
Vanek lit the lamp 2:47 into the third and Vrbata scored his 16th goal of the season with 9:24 to play to make it a 6-2 game.
Pominville’s second goal of the game with 1:47 to play capped the scoring.
Buffalo continues its seven-game road trip in Anaheim on Tuesday...Phoenix hosts Nashville on Thursday...Buffalo has won four straight in the series...Tim Connolly finished the game with three assists.
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