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Gerbe lifts Sabres over Devils in SO

Jan 25, 2012 - 4:15 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Nathan Gerbe's goal in the fourth round of the shootout gave the Buffalo Sabres a rare road win in a 2-1 decision over the New Jersey Devils.

After Jason Pominville's goal in the third round forced the game to go on, New Jersey's Adam Henrique had his backhander deflect off Ryan Miller's glove and go wide of the net.

Gerbe then skated down the ice and deked right before breaking left and wristing a shot past the stick side of Martin Brodeur for the game-winner.

Jordan Leopold lit the lamp in regulation for the Sabres, while Miller made 27 saves as Buffalo snapped its franchise-record streak of 12 straight losses on the road.

"The guys played a responsible game," said Miller. "I think we'll start to see more chances as we get a better grip on the way we need to play. We'll get more offense and those chances will start to even out for us."

Patrik Elias netted the lone goal in regulation for New Jersey, which dropped its third consecutive game. Brodeur stopped 13-of-14 shots in defeat.

Buffalo tallied the lone goal of the first period. Gerbe's slap shot from the left circle went high-and-wide, but took a fortuitous bounce off the boards and caromed to the right side of the net, where Leopold stuffed it home with 3:26 left.

New Jersey responded with a goal in the second period on the second of consecutive penalties to Buffalo's Derek Roy. Roy was called for tripping at the 6:37 mark of the middle stanza and the Sabres were able to kill off that power play, but less than a minute after he came out of the penalty box he was whistled for a boarding minor.

The Devils were able to capitalize. After Kurtis Foster's one-timer from the right point was blocked in front, Zach Parise grabbed the loose puck and backhanded a pass to the right of the net, where Elias sent a wrister into the far side at 10:22.

Brodeur made three saves in the second period, four in the third and just one in overtime to force the shootout. Miller stopped six shots in the third period and four in the extra period as the Devils dominated the majority of the action.

"We started the game slow," Brodeur said. "The last two periods and overtime was pretty good. We played well, but we just couldn't score that extra goal that we needed."

Game Notes

The Sabres' last win on the road was on December 3 against Nashville...Sabres forward Jochen Hecht sat out the game with a concussion...The Sabres improved to 9-15-0 as the visiting team this season, while the Devils fell to 12-9-2 as the host...New Jersey went 1-for-2 on the power play...Buffalo failed to score on its lone man advantage.