San Jose Sharks vs Buffalo Sabres Match Player Stats On Jan 06, 2022

Adin Hill made 37 saves and the visiting San Jose Sharks defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Thursday night.

Tomas Hertl scored his 17th goal of the season and added an assist for the Sharks, who had allowed 14 goals in losing the first two games of a four-game road trip.

Hill was making his first start since Dec. 16 and picked up his first win since Dec. 7.

Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons scored for the Sabres, who have lost five straight (0-3-2). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves for Buffalo, which was playing its first game since Jan 1.

Girgensons' power-play goal with Luukkonen pulled for the extra attacker drew the Sabres within 3-2 with 1:45 remaining.

The Sharks took a 1-0 lead at 12:27 of the first period after Nick Bonino forced a turnover in the offensive zone. He fed Andrew Cogliano who redirected it to Matt Nieto, and he scored on a wrist shot from just below the hash marks.

Timo Meier made it 2-0 when his long shot from the left point deflected off the far post and in at 13:44 of the period. Meier has eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last six games.

Hertl increased the lead to 3-0 when he took a pass from Alexander Barabanov and scored from the high slot on the rush. Hertl has scored 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in his past 11 games.

Skinner pulled the Sabres within 3-1 at 7:56 of the second period when he controlled the puck along the half-wall, skated into the slot and beat Hill with a wrist shot for his second goal in his past two games.

The Sabres picked up a power play with 2:09 remaining in the game and pulled Luukkonen. The move quickly paid off as Girgensons scored on the rebound after Tage Thompson's shot hit the crossbar.

--Field Level Media