Recap: Raffl's two-goal game lifts Stars to 4-2 win vs. Buffalo

DALLAS -- Could a fresh hair cut make all the difference?
Armed with a brand-new buzz cut, Michael Raffl recorded his first multi-goal game in nearly six years to lead the Stars to a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in front of a sellout crowd of 18,532 at American Airlines Center.

In need of a good showing against a Sabres team near the bottom of the standings, the Stars jumped out to a 1-0 lead 12:35 into the opening frame on the first of Raffl's two goals. Dallas would extend its lead to 2-0, 3-1 and 4-1 on two goals from Raffl and one apiece from Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov.

It marked Raffl's first multi-goal game since March 15, 2016 vs. Detroit when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hintz' tally, which doubled the Stars' lead 6:34 into the middle frame, marked his team-leading 23rd goal of the season.

Jake Oettinger allowed two goals on 40 shots to improve his record to 6-1-1 over his past eight games and 8-2-1 in his past 11.
With the win, the Stars (29-20-3) leapfrogged the Edmonton Oilers for the second wild card spot in the West. Both teams have 61 points, but the Stars have a game in hand.

The Stars have taken both games against the Sabres this season and have gone 7-2-0 in their past nine and 10-3-0 in their past 13 overall vs. Buffalo. They also improved to 8-1-1 in the past 10 meetings at American Airlines Center.
Tage Thompson and Cody Eakin scored for the Sabres, who lost their sixth in a row. Craig Anderson took the loss in net.
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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.