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Preds get hat trick from Geoffrion, beat Sabres in OT

Mar 21, 2011 - 2:46 AM Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Martin Erat scored 27 seconds into overtime as Nashville rallied from two goals down late in the game to take a 4-3 win over Buffalo.

Blake Geoffrion scored twice in 64 seconds to complete his hat trick and pull Nashville even. The second came with 1:23 left in regulation to force overtime.

In the extra session, David Legwand picked off the puck behind the net and passed to the top of the left circle for Ryan Suter, who immediately fired it to the low right side, where Erat one-timed it home.

Geoffrion recorded the hat trick in his 11th career game for the Predators, who won for a third straight game.

Anders Lindback stopped 35 shots as Nashville, with 86 points, sits in the seventh spot in the Western Conference.

"We really didn't have many chances in the third period and then out of nowhere we get two goals to tie the game," said Lindback. "All the guys worked hard out there and it was a good win."

Tim Connolly, Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis scored for the Sabres, who have dropped two of three but hold a three-point lead for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ryan Miller was tagged for all four goals on 26 shots.

"When you're up by two with a couple of minutes left and you give up a point it really hurts," said Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff.

Buffalo had scored three times in the second period for a 3-1 lead, but Nashville rallied late to force overtime.

With 2:27 to play, Geoffrion stuffed it in from the low right side, and just over a minute later, he deflected home a Cody Franson shot to send the game to overtime.

Nashville scored 6:44 into the game, when a Geoffrion pass on the fly from the left side hit a Buffalo player and went in.

However, the Sabres lit the lamp 7:04 into the middle period, when Gerbe stuffed home a rebound from in front. Only 42 seconds later, the Sabres grabbed a 2-1 lead on a 2-on-1 break, as Connolly snapped a wrister in net from the inside left circle.

With one minute left and Buffalo on a power play, Ennis' wrister from the inside right circle trickled in.

Game Notes

Buffalo plays at Montreal on Tuesday...The Predators host Edmonton on Tuesday...Buffalo had won three of four against Nashville...Buffalo didn't incur a penalty.