THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT Datsyuk Sekera Hudler 1G 1G, 1A, 2 Pts 1G

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Jiri Hudler tied it with 58 seconds remaining and Pavel Datsyuk also scored in regulation, then they each had goals in the shootoout to lift the Detroit Red Wings over the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Saturday night.

Datsyuk and Hudler both went to the right side in beating Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller in the shootout and giving the Red Wings their fifth straight road win.

Detroit backup goalie Joey MacDonald, who stopped 30 shots, made saves on Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek in the shootout.

Hudler's goal with time running out completed Detroit's comeback from 2-0 down in the first period. ...more.

The Sabres took a 2-0 lead in the first period and were clinging to a 2-1 advantage in the closing moments of the third period with the chance to win a third consecutive game.  With just under a minute remaining, Detroit pulled goaltender Joey McDonald in favor of an extra attacker.  Johan Franzen took a long wrist shot from the left point, which found its way through traffic.  Miller made the save, but the rebound bounced into the slot and went right to Jiri Hudler, who fired the puck past Miller to tie the game.  Detroit went on to win the game in a shootout as Hudler scored the goal to ice it.

Andrej Sekera

Andrej Sekera certainly made an impact in his return to the lineup, recording a goal and an assist for his first multi-point game of the season.  The defenseman had been a healthy scratch for the last three games and scored his second goal of the season – and first since Nov. 3 – as he opened the scoring for Buffalo. Sekera took a feed from Jochen Hecht at the Detroit blue line and entered the zone on a two-on-one with Tyler Ennis.  As he skated through the right circle, he ripped a backhand to the short-side over the shoulder of Red Wings goalie Joey McDonald.  Just over two minutes later, Sekera joined the rush again, this time up the left wing, and found Mike Grier in front for another goal.  Grier’s goal gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead.

- Tonight’s game concluded Buffalo’s season-long six-game homestand, during which the team went 2-3-1.

- The shootout loss was the first of the season for the Sabres, dropping their shootout record to 5-1.

- Thomas Vanek, who had been a perfect 5-for-5 in shootout attempts this year, but was stopped for the first time all season by McDonald.

- Jordan Leopold, who tied his career-high by recording his 33rd point of the season in Friday’s win over Ottawa, did not play tonight.  After the game, Ruff said Leopold was not feeling well.   

- Chris Butler led the Sabres in ice time with a season-high 25:19.  He also took three shots on goal and blocked a shot.

- Grier’s goal was his second in as many nights, giving him five on the season.

- After racking up a game-high seven hits Friday against Ottawa, Patrick Kaleta was credited for six hits against Detroit, all of which came in the first period.
 
- The Sabres wore their royal blue, 40th anniversary jerseys.

- Tonight’s crowd of 18,690 gave the Sabres their fourth consecutive sellout at HSBC Arena.

- Detroit made its first appearance in Buffalo since Oct. 13, 2009

- Defenseman Craig Rivet was claimed off re-entry waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the day.

- Forwards Drew Miller and Patrick Eaves and defenseman Brian Rafalski were scratched for Detroit.

Now that their six-game homestand is over, the Sabres hit the road for a franchise-record seven-game road trip.  The roadie begins Tuesday when Buffalo visits Madison Square Garden to take on the Rangers for the first time since Nov. 11.  The Sabres have gone 0-1-1 against the Blueshirts thus far, losing 6-3 in the home opener on Oct. 9 and 3-2 in overtime in the last meeting.  In their last 10 trips to the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” the Sabres have gone 5-3-2.  The Rangers are led by center Brandon Dubinsky (19-24-43) and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who ranks in the top 10 among NHL netminders in goals against average (2.33) and save percentage (.922 SV%).  Earlier Saturday, New York acquired defenseman Bryan McCabe from Florida in exchange for former Sabre Tim Kennedy and a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.