Sabres top Flames in overtime

CALGARY -- Jack Eichel scored 1:30 into overtime to give the Buffalo Sabres a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday.

Scott Wilson scored in the first period for the Sabres (12-26-9), who won for the first time in three games and are 2-6-1 in their past nine.
"I think that that's the way we need to play in order to win," Eichel said. "We did what we needed to do to win. Just need to find it on a consistent basis, that compete and that desperation shift in and shift out."
WATCH: [All Sabres vs. Flames highlights]
Chad Johnson made 32 saves for Buffalo to earn his second win of the season. Johnson, a Calgary native, played 36 games for the Flames last season and signed a one-year contract with the Sabres on July 1.
"There's more motivation there and a little more desire to kind of … not stick it to them, but when they play me, I'm sure they want to compete a little bit harder knowing me and I want to compete a little bit harder knowing them," Johnson said. "It was just a fun experience and it's nice to get the win. It's been a tough year so it's nice to get a win, especially tonight in my hometown."
Matthew Tkachuk scored, and Mike Smith made 31 saves for Calgary (25-16-6), which is on a nine-game point streak but is 0-0-2 coming out of its five-day break. The Flames entered the break on a seven-game winning streak.
"In the end, you get a point again and you just keep pushing forward, but that's a game there you'd like to have two in," Smith said.
Eichel one-timed a pass from Rasmus Ristolainen by Smith just as a Sabres power play ended. Eichel has four goals and six assists in a six-game point streak, and 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in his past 14 games.

"I thought the face-off at the end was a good opportunity for us to get a quick shot," Eichel said. "I said to [Ristolainen], 'Try to get it in the middle and then I'll try to open up for a one-timer.' We tried for a quick shot."
Tkachuk redirected Johnny Gaudreau's pass over Johnson's right shoulder at 8:00 of the first period to put the Flames up 1-0. Tkachuk has 10 points (six goals, four assists) and Gaudreau has 14 (two goals, 12 assists) in the past nine games.
Wilson scored 24 seconds later to tie the game 1-1 when he beat Smith through the five-hole from the high slot at 8:24.
"I hated both goals, to be honest," Smith said. "Both goals were stoppable pucks. Any time pucks to go through you or under you, you'd like to have them back."
Johnson made a left-pad save on Garnet Hathaway at 10:42 of the second period, and Smith made a blocker save on Sam Reinhart's shot from the edge of the crease at 18:43.
Johnson made an arm save on Brett Kulak's shot at 9:40 of the third period.
"He gave us a chance to win," Eichel said. "He made a lot of real, real big saves at key times in the game. It's great to see him get a win. I thought he's played really well this year and maybe not gotten the bounces and the goal support. It's awesome to see him get a win here in Calgary."

Goal of the game

Eichel's goal at 1:30 of overtime.

Save of the game

Johnson's save on Hathaway at 10:42 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Tkachuk's goal at 8:00 of the first period.

They said it

"I can't say enough about how we competed from start to finish. That's what we've needed. That's what you need to win games. It was a hockey game. I think that's the first one I've been a part of this year that felt like a normal hockey game to be a part of. It was fun to be out there and get the win."-- Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson
"We had some momentum going into it and then you come out of it, we're still getting some points. I don't think we've played up to where we were before the bye. I think it's mental more than anything, and just getting back going and getting back into the rhythm of things and the bye week can maybe put a stall on that." -- Flames goaltender Mike Smith

Need to know

Johnson's previous win was Oct. 15 against the Anaheim Ducks. ... Smith allowed more than one goal for the first time in four starts. ... Buffalo defenseman Nathan Beaulieu left the game at 3:11 of the first period with an undisclosed injury following a fight with Flames forward Curtis Lazar. He will be re-evaluated Tuesday. ... Flames forward Jaromir Jagr missed his eighth consecutive game because of a lower-body injury.

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What's next

Sabres: At the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG-B, NHL.TV)
Flames: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-W, NHL.TV)