Sabres’ power play, Ullmark spark 3-1 win over Red Wings

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) >> Casey Mittelstadt and Kyle Okposo scored power-play goals and the Buffalo Sabres won for just the fourth time in 11 games by beating the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Saturday.

Linus Ullmark stopped 28 shots, bouncing back after allowing 10 goals on 75 shots in his previous two outings, including a 6-5 overtime loss to Carolina on Thursday.

His best save came with 8:03 remaining, and immediately after Buffalo’s Tage Thompson squandered a 2-on-1 break at the other end. Ullmark held his ground to prevent Andreas Athanasiou’s attempt to beat him through the legs on a wide-open breakaway.

Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit, and Jimmy Howard finished with 18 saves, allowing three goals on 12 shots in the second period. Detroit has lost two

straight since winning five of seven.

Conor Sheary also scored for the slow-starting Sabres, who scored three times in the second period after managing just four shots in the first.

Buffalo improved to 4-6-1 in its previous 11 games and 10-14-5 since ending a franchise-record-matching 10game winning streak.

It was a much-needed victory for the Sabres (2720-7), who have gone from briefly leading the Eastern Conference standings in November to 10th place. The Sabres began Saturday with 59 points, four behind Pittsburgh, which holds the East’s second and final wildcard berth.

Frustration began settling in for the Sabres following their loss to Carolina.

Several Sabres spent Friday clarifying or apologizing for comments they made following the OT loss.

Forward Sam Reinhart said he misspoke in saying “we need more from our goalies,” a comment that didn’t reflect other comments he made. On Friday, Reinhart said he meant the team needs to do more for its goalies.