Sabres 3 - 4 Avalanche
Final - OT
  for this game

Jones' OT winner lifts Avs over Sabres

Jan 5, 2011 - 5:55 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - David Jones scored a power-play with 43 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres at Pepsi Center.

In the extra session, Tomas Fleischmann took a pass from Colorado defenseman Ryan Wilson in the neutral zone, skated down the left wing and slipped the puck past a sliding Buffalo defenseman to Jones, who one-timed it behind Ryan Miller.

"It's unbelievable. I've never scored (an overtime goal) in this league," Jones said. "I didn't really know what to do. I was just so excited. It's been a few games in a row that we've kind of squandered the lead, so it's great to get the two points here."

Daniel Winnik had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who snapped a four- game losing streak on home ice. Peter Budaj made 37 saves to collect his first win since November 27.

Thomas Vanek, Jochen Hecht and Steve Montador each lit the lamp for Buffalo, which was aiming for its first three-game winning streak of the season. Miller stopped 30 shots in defeat.

The Avalanche opened the scoring at the 14:16 mark of the first period. Winnik accepted a pass by T.J. Galiardi and fired a wrister from the right circle past Miller.

Colorado defenseman Ryan O'Byrne received a double-minor for high-sticking 21 seconds later, and it took Vanek only 12 seconds to find the back of the net on the power play.

Still on the penalty kill, Ryan O'Reilly forced a Buffalo turnover and moved towards the crease before tapping in a Winnik feed, restoring Colorado's lead at 16:03.

Hecht and Montador scored 63 seconds apart, the latter coming at 5:31 of the third period to put Buffalo up 3-2. Colorado answered 31 seconds later on a tally by Matt Duchene.

"I thought we came out great in the beginning of the third period with two big goals," said Buffalo forward Luke Adam. "They got one obviously. The chances are there, we had that open net and we had a chance in overtime -- we just have to capitalize on our chances."

Game Notes

Colorado improved to 8-3-3 against Eastern Conference opponents this season...Fleischmann had two assists...Buffalo has dropped four straight against the Avalanche.






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