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Pominville's OT winner on advantage sends Sabres past Habs

Jan 19, 2011 - 5:16 AM Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Jason Pominville's power-play goal at 1:09 of overtime lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-1 win over Montreal in a Northeast Division battle at HSBC Arena.

Tyler Ennis scored Buffalo's regulation goal while Ryan Miller made 29 saves for the Sabres, who have won two of their last three games and also halted a four-game skid against the Canadiens.

"We played an excellent game -- we played smart," said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.

David Desharnais scored for Montreal, which despite the loss has still earned at least one point in eight of its last nine games overall (6-1-2). Carey Price allowed two goals on 39 shots for the Habs.

A high-sticking minor on veteran Scott Gomez inside the final minute of regulation led to a Buffalo advantage, which carried into overtime.

Thomas Vanek held control below the right circle near the goal line and fed a pass across the goal mouth for Pominville, who blasted a snap shot one-timer into the back of the cage for the game-winner.

"This was a big two points for us," said Pominville. "Our power play has been doing a much better job lately of creating opportunities and it's been leading to goals, including obviously the game-winner tonight."

Montreal opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:19 of the first period. With Mike Weber in the penalty box for cross checking, Roman Hamrlik, from the left point near the half wall, sent a floating wrister toward the net and Desharnais redirected the puck past Miller from the far post.

In the second period, the Sabres responded with their first power-play marker. Hal Gill was whistled for slashing near the period's midpoint and Ennis notched his 11th goal of the campaign less than a minute into the 5-on-4 advantage. Vanek and Tim Connolly assisted on the goal.

Both goaltenders stopped all 11 shots they faced in the scoreless third frame.

Game Notes

Montreal still leads the season series, 3-1...The Habs were 1-for-3 with the extra skater while the hosts went 2-for-5...Price made 15 saves in the second period...Habs forward Max Pacioretty left the game after the first period due to a lower-body injury. He was hit by the puck during a shot attempt by teammate James Wisniewski.