"We battled," Lalonde said. "We've done it all year, just kept battling. Down 4-2 and 6-4, obviously a game not going our way with the way some things were going...We just hung in there. All in all, that's a really good point."
The Sabres missed a penalty shot four minutes into the first period, but took a 1-0 lead just 35 seconds later. Austin Czarnik and captain Dylan Larkin scored back-to-back goals mid-way through the frame to push Detroit ahead, 2-1. A skirmish following Buffalo's second tally of the night at 17:10 led to 5-on-4 hockey in favor of the Sabres, who retook their one-goal advantage at 19:08.
Buffalo made it 4-2 early in the second before Alex Chiasson's power-play goal at 16:04 cut the Sabres' lead in half. Just 48 seconds later, Simon Edvinsson's second career NHL goal tied the game, 4-4.
Detroit found itself in another two-goal deficit before the five-minute mark of the third, but Jonatan Berggren got the Red Wings within 6-5 at 8:02. With Detroit goalie Ville Husso - who finished with 30 saves - pulled for an extra attacker, David Perron evened the score with 60 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
After a tense, but scoreless, extra frame, the Sabres edged the Red Wings in the shootout, 2-1.
With the loss, Detroit (35-33-10; 80 points) was officially eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention for the seventh consecutive season. Buffalo improved to 38-32-7 (83 points) overall.
"You're eliminated on the 78th game," Lalonde said. "Obviously, especially what happened at the deadline with injury, the guys just kept battling. No doubt I think a positive on the big picture."
NOTABLE: In honor of Tigers Night at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers dropped the ceremonial puck.
NEXT UP:Detroit will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena.
