NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Okposo scored with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, Eric Comrie stopped 27 shots for his second career shutout, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders 2-0 on Saturday.
Jeff Skinner added an empty-net goal to help Buffalo win its second straight after losing the previous four.
Semyon Varlamov finished with 33 saves for New York, which lost its second straight. The Islanders had won 11 straight at home against the Sabres.
Comrie made a key third-period save with a stellar right-pad stop on Pierre Engvall from in close to keep the game scoreless midway through the final period.
Okposo opened the scoring with 6:29 left as he notched his 10th of the season. Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield failed to clear the puck and Buffalo capitalized. Sabres defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin sent a fluttering puck across the slot and Okposo controlled the pass and fired a wrist shot past Varlamov’s right pad, off the post and in.
Okposo spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Islanders before signing a seven-year $42 million contract with the Sabres in the summer of 2016. He was named captain of Buffalo ahead of this season.
Skinner tallied an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the victory for Buffalo.
One of Varlamov’s best saves came early in the third period when he denied Dylan Cozen’s breakaway attempt and the game remained 0-0. The Russian goaltender played well in his first start since Mar. 11 and collected his first victory since Feb. 26.
NOTES
Josh Bailey returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the previous four games and skated on the Islanders’ top line alongside Anders Lee and Bo Horvat. … Brock Nelson skated in his 750th NHL game with the Islanders and became the ninth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
UP NEXT
Sabres: Host Montreal on Monday night.
Islanders: Host New Jersey on Monday night.