Reinhart, Sabres get past Red Wings

BUFFALO --The Buffalo Sabres tied it twice before Sam Reinhart scored the game-winning goal early in the third period of a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.

"I think we did a good job tonight of keeping our mindset short and focusing on the task at hand," said Reinhart, who also had an assist. "I think Marcus Johansson], [Conor Sheary]*
Darren Helm scored twice, and Jonathan Bernier made 22 saves for Detroit (14-40-4). Anthony Mantha had two assists in his return after missing 20 games because of an upper-body injury.
"He came out with a lot of energy and was handling the puck, showed poise with it," Helm said of Mantha. "I think at times he calmed things down a lot. Obviously, he's a great player, and this team needs him to be healthy to be successful. Excited to see what he can do the last few games we've got."
Helm gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead when he slipped the rebound of his own shot through Hutton's pads 27 seconds into the first period.
Sheary scored 36 seconds later to tie it 1-1 on a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Johansson.

Sheary had a chance to give Buffalo the lead at 1:32 of the second period but missed the net on a penalty shot after he was slashed on a breakaway by Filip Hronek.
"He's just a lot more active," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said of Sheary. "His feet are alive, he's getting in on the forecheck, and we need him to be that spark plug. I'm really pleased for him to get the goal today. There's somebody who's been getting these type of chances in the slot and for him to bury one I'm sure will help him here. We need our secondary scoring to get confidence and with Johansson scoring today too, that's the kind of effort we need."
Helm scored with a backhand while alone in front after receiving Mantha's pass from behind the net to make it 2-1 at 7:02 of the second period.
"I thought the line was really good," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "Darren Helm played really well. I thought it was good to have Anthony back playing at that level. When he plays at that level, he's one of the better players in the League, really hard to handle ... If he can keep playing at that level, it makes us a way better hockey team."

Rasmus Dahlin left a drop pass in the right circle for Johansson, who tied it 2-2 at 14:59 with a snap shot glove side on Bernier. Reinhart gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead when he pushed a loose puck between the left post and Bernier's right pad 57 seconds into the third period.
Red Wings forward Brendan Perlini sustained a deep laceration around his eye and nose after he was clipped by Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju's skate at 15:16 of the first period. He received stitches and flew home with the team.

They said it

"It's hard for everybody -- old guy, young guy -- it's not easy to be in this situation. But there's a good thing that we're still, I think, working pretty hard, we're still coming out with some energy. It doesn't always go great for us, but I think we're still competing hard." -- Red Wings forward Darren Helm
"It's the NHL, there's so much parity. You look at [teams like Detroit], sometimes those teams that don't have the pressure of playing for the (Stanley Cup) Playoffs and playing for position, they can play a little more run and gun. They have some really talented players there and I think they showed it tonight. So for us, just staying with it for a full 60 and finding a way to win, especially here at home, obviously is a big relief and something we can build off going forward." -- Sabres goalie Carter Hutton

Need to know

With an assist on Reinhart's goal, Jack Eichel became the first Sabres player to score 70 points in consecutive seasons since Derek Roy (2007-08 and 2008-09). … Dahlin tied Rick Hampton (76) for third-most points by a teenage defenseman in NHL history. … Mantha played 19:36 in his return.

What's next

Red Wings:At the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Sabres:Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, FS-O, NHL.TV)