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Leino, Miller power Sabres past Canucks

Mar 4, 2012 - 7:14 AM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - For the first time in a week, somebody scored on Ryan Miller.

The Sabres didn't need him to be perfect this time. They beat Roberto Luongo three times in barely five minutes, then knocked off the top team in the NHL.

In regulation, no less.

Ville Leino scored twice in the first 3:44 of the game, Miller had 32 saves coming off back-to-back shutouts and the Sabres held on for a 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Brad Boyes added a goal 5:10 into the first period, giving Buffalo a quick 3-0 lead and chasing Luongo from the game after just seven shots. Former Canuck Christian Ehrhoff scored in the third period for some distance and the Sabres pulled off what only one other team has done in the last month and a half.

It was only the second time in 20 games since Jan. 15 that Vancouver lost in regulation (13-2-5).

David Booth scored twice and former Sabre Zack Kassian added a goal late in the third period to give the Canucks hope, but they remained on 90 points -- still tops in the league.

Cory Schneider spelled Luongo and gave up one goal on 17 shots. The Canucks are 1-1 on a seven-game homestand. Although they have earned points in 18 of their last 20 games, they have lost three of their last four (1-1-2).

"It was a bad start, I've got to be better than that, obviously, for my teammates," said Luongo. "The boys battled hard to try and come back and we played a pretty good match, I'll take responsibility for this one."

Booth beat Miller on a one-timer from the low left side 15:37 into the second period, ending the goaltender's scoreless streak at 155 minutes, 37 seconds. It was the first goal allowed by Miller since Rangers captain Ryan Callahan scored in overtime to beat the Sabres last Saturday.

It wasn't the only streak to fall Saturday. The other one broke in Buffalo's favor.

The Sabres snapped a six-game winless drought in Vancouver (five losses, one tie) that dated back to a win on Feb. 28, 1999.

Leino scored on a blast 55 seconds into the game, then stumbled onto a rebound in front and sent that one through to make it 2-0. Boyes was awarded his goal after a replay of his shot that rattled off the posts.

Booth had the only goal of the second period. Ehrhoff, who signed a lucrative deal with the Sabres in the offseason, then made it 4-1 Buffalo with a long slap shot from the left side at 2:36 of the third.

Booth scored again on a rebound, beating Miller with a backhand at 3:43, while trade deadline acquisition Kassian wristed a bouncing puck past him with 2:46 left to make it a one-goal game.

But Tyler Ennis' empty-netter with 63 seconds remaining sealed the win.

Game Notes

Vancouver dealt young center and fan favorite Cody Hodgson to Buffalo for Kassian ahead of the trade deadline on Feb. 27. Hodgson played 16:52 for the Sabres. The teams also swapped defensemen: Alexander Sulzer played 12:57 for Buffalo, while Marc-Andre Gragnani skated for 18:38 for Vancouver...Despite its struggles in Vancouver, the Sabres have won four of the last five meetings overall...The Canucks continue their seven-game homestand Tuesday vs. Dallas...Buffalo is 3-0-1 on a five-game road trip that finishes Monday in Winnipeg.