Reinhart scores go-ahead goal in Sabres 3-2 win over Detroit

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sam Reinhart jammed in a loose puck for the go-ahead goal 57 seconds into the third period in the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

Marcus Johansson had a goal and assist and Conor Sheary also scored in a game the Sabres overcame two one-goal deficits. Carter Hutton stopped 27 shots, and Buffalo won for just he third time in its past nine (3-5-1).

Detroit’s Darren Helm scored twice for his 11th multi-goal game and first since scoring twice on Oct. 17, 2016. Anthony Mantha had two assists in playing his first game after missing 20 with a rib injury and punctured lung.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 22 shots for Detroit, which was attempting to beat the Sabres for the second time in five days following a 4-3 shootout win at Buffalo.

The Red Wings, who sit last in the NHL standings, were unable to build on a modest run which had them win two of three, including a 3-1 victory over Boston on Sunday. Detroit instead dropped to 2-10-1 in its past 13.

Reinhart scored by taking advantage of a pair of fortunate bounces. Defenseman Henri Jokiharju’s shot from the blue line missed the net, banked off the end boards and then bounced toward the net off the skate of Sabres captain Jack Eichel. Bernier stretched out his right pad to stop the puck at the right post, before Reinhart out-muscled Luke Glendening to push it in.

Helm opened the scoring 27 seconds in when he retrieved his own rebound and slipped the loose puck through Hutton’s legs.

Sheary tied it 36 seconds later by one-timing in Johansson’s cross-ice pass to beat Bernier inside the right post.

Sheary squandered a chance to put Buffalo up 1:32 into the second period, when he shot high and wide of the net on a penalty-shot attempt. He was awarded the penalty shot after being hooked from behind by Filip Hronek.

The teams then traded goals eight minutes apart in the second period.

Helm was allowed to stand untouched in front when he shoveled in a shot to put Detroit up 2-1 at 7:02.

Johansson then tied it with a shot from the right circle that beat Bernier high on the short side. He was set up by Rasmus Dahlin, who drove up the right wing, cut to the middle and made a nifty, no-look drop pass to Johansson.

Red Wings forward Brendon Perlini sustained a deep cut to his nose after being struck in the face by Jokiharju’s skate following a collision with 3:51 left in the first period.

Perlini lay face down for several moments before being tended to by team trainers. He was then helped up and held a towel to his face in making his way off the ice and heading directly into the locker room.

Perlini was playing the puck along the boards in the neutral zone when Jokiharju ran into him. As the two fell, Jokiharju’s skate flew back and first knocked off Perlin’s helmet before appearing to hit him across the right cheek.

NOTES: Dahlin’s assist on Johansson’s goal was his 76th career point, moving the 19-year-old into a tie with California Golden Seals’ Rick Hampton for third-most by a teenage defenseman. Ray Bourque ranks second with 79 and former Sabres player and coach Phil Housley (132) is first. … Red Wings C Frans Nielsen (upper body) was also activated from IR after missing five games. Detroit then re-assigned LW Taro Hirose and RW Givani Smith to AHL Grand Rapids. … The Red Wings also placed D Jonathan Eriksson on waivers. … Sabres RW Kyle Okposo is expected to miss a few more games after practicing for the first time since sustaining an upper body injury in a 3-1 loss to Montreal on Jan. 30.

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Continue four-game road trip at New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

Sabres: Host Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.