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Kotalik helps Sabres continue home domination of Flames

Feb 11, 2007 - 5:36 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- When the Buffalo Sabres needed someone to stand tall, Ales Kotalik rose to the occasion.

Daniel Briere forged a tie late in the third period and Kotalik scored the only goal of the shootout as the Sabres escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Thomas Vanek had a goal and Ryan Miller stopped all three attempts he faced in the bonus format for Buffalo, which extended its home unbeaten streak against Calgary to seven games. The Sabres have not lost here to the Flames since March 15, 1996, going 6-0-1 in that span.

"It's an important win," Kotalik said. "Calgary is a good team, they didn't give up too many chances. It was exactly the game we expected tonight. We were able to tie (on the goal) by Danny and win it in the shootout."

After Miikka Kiprusoff stopped All-Star Game MVP Briere on the Sabres' first attempt in the shootout, Kotalik put a backhander past Calgary's goaltender to give Buffalo a 1-0 advantage.

Miller then knocked away a shot by Matthew Lombardi and dragged his right pad to stop a soft shot by Kristian Huselius to notch his ninth win in 11 shootouts this season.

"I tried to shoot it, and slow, so he would move with me," Huselius said. "He covered down low and made the save."

"I want to win, I want to challenge them to change their mind," Miller said. "I think I skate pretty well for a goalie. I come out and use my skating ability to make them change things up."

The Flames, who fell to 0-1-1 on their three-game road trip, held a 2-1 advantage late in regulation before Buffalo's co-captain evened the contest.

After a scramble behind the net, Briere gathered the puck on the right side and backhanded it over Kiprusoff with 3:36 to knot the game.

"He's a goaltender that likes to go down, cover the lower part of the net," Briere said. "I knew I didn't have much room. It was probably the only spot I could fit it. I went for it. At first, I didn't realize it went in."

The tally was Briere's eighth in his last nine contests.

Huselius scored his team-leading 25th goal early in the second to open the scoring and extend his points streak to 15 games.

"I don't care about the points streak," Huselius said. "You want to win games."

Rookie David Moss tallied less than eight minutes into the third to open a 2-1 lead for the Flames, who are 29th in the NHL with seven road victories.

"I think we played well for most of the game," Moss said. "They get a break and they capitalize on it. They're a highly skilled team. You make one little mistake and it's in the back of your net. We just have to rebound."

Miller stopped 23 shots for Buffalo, which has won five of its last six games.

Kiprusoff made 32 saves but fell to 0-4 in shootouts this season.

"We gave up the lead," Kiprusoff said. "I think we played pretty well. At least we got one point on the road."