Dylan Cozens gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 5:05 of the second period, tapping in Brett Murray's centering pass on a 3-on-2 rush. Murray's assist was his first NHL point in his fifth game.
Carter Rowney tied it 1-1 at 9:56. Gustav Lindstrom's shot hit Tokarski's stick and bounced behind him, and as the Sabres goalie tried to find the loose puck, he knocked it toward the goal line with his left pad and Rowney pushed it in.
Pius Suter gave Detroit a 2-1 lead at 11:15, jamming in the rebound after Tokarski saved Moritz Seider's initial shot.
Tokarski said thought he had been bumped by Givani Smith, but Buffalo coach Don Granato chose not to challenge the play.
"I told the guys after the game that I was at fault there," Granato said. "We didn't have great video on the bench, and if you challenge and lose, they get the power play. But I saw a better video later, and I should have made the challenge."
Jeff Skinner tied it 2-2 at 18:23 of the third period, deflecting Cody Eakin's point shot with Tokarski pulled for the extra attacker.
"When you are in front of the net at 6-on-5, you are just hoping for a rebound or a deflection," Skinner said. "Luckily, I was able to get my stick on that shot and put it over the goalie."
NOTES: Red Wings forward Vladislav Namestnikov played in his 500th NHL game. He has scored 217 points (98 goals, 119 assists) for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche and Red Wings. Since signing with Detroit as a free agent prior to the 2020-21 season, he has scored 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 75 games.