Skinner scores 2, Thompson 1 as Sabres beat Coyotes 5-2

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Tage Thompson scored the go-ahead goal on a power play midway through the third period and Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist in his return from a three-game suspension as the Buffalo Sabres beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 on Saturday night.

Tyson Jost and Kyle Okposo scored into an empty net in the final 90 seconds to seal Buffalo’s third straight win and improve to 5-1-1 in its last seven games. Alex Tuch had three assists, Rasmus Dahlin and Thompson each added two, and Craig Anderson made 29 saves.

“We kept fighting,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “I like that aspect of our game. They’re not an easy team to play against and their goaltending was outstanding. I think having Skinner back in the lineup was big, big impact.”

Shayne Gostisbehere and Barrett Hayton scored for the Coyotes, who are 4-3-1 at their new home, 5,000-seat Mullett Arena at Arizona State. Connor Ingram finished with 38 saves.

Thompson scored the go-ahead goal against a prone Ingram, who had stopped two point-blank shots, but the Coyotes couldn’t clear the puck. Thompson has 25 goals and 46 points in his last 24 games.

“It’s a big moment in the game,” said Thompson, who was born in Phoenix and played in front of his mother and friends. “We knew it was a big power play. (Ingram) makes a big save on (Dylan Cozens) but everyone was looking for their goal. The ball came loose and I was right next to the net. It was good to take the lead there in the third.”

The Sabres have won 2 of 5 power play games after finishing second in the NHL at 29.6%.

“We found a way to stay in the game,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “There’s obviously a learning curve in that we have to focus on our penalties and their goals. From our side, there wasn’t a single one we should have taken. None of them were smart. It was necessary.”

Gostisbehere gave the Coyotes a 1-0 power-play lead 3:35 into the game with a slap shot from inside the blue line off a screen by Nick Ritchie. Gostisbehere has four goals and nine points in his last eight games.

The Sabres tied the game on their first power play at 6:34 of the first period. Ingram got his glove on Thompson’s wrist shot from the left circle but couldn’t stop it, and the puck bounced off Skinner’s chest into the net. It was Skinner’s 14th goal in his first game back from a three-game suspension for checking Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel in a Dec. 9 loss.

Skinner resumed his position in the front row with Thompson and Tuch.

“I’ve been skating with the assistant coaches during the suspension,” Skinner said. “They’ve been making sure I’ve stayed in shape. The team has been pretty good lately. They’ve had some really good games lately. Obviously Tuch and Tommy are playing pretty well. I’ve just been trying to keep up with them and help them out as much as I can.”

Hayton gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead with 7:44 left in the second period with his first goal of the season. He stole the puck at his blue line, skated alone on Anderson and fired a wrist shot glove side.

Ingram robbed Okposo on a glove save with 3:44 left in the second, but Skinner tied it at 2-2 less than 30 seconds later with a wrist shot from the right circle off a pass from Dahlin.

REMARKS

Sabres defenseman Jeremy Davies was in the lineup after being recalled Friday from Rochester of the AHL, while defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin (lower body) and Owen Power (lower body) remain sidelined. … The Coyotes recalled forward Jan Jeník from Tucson of the AHL but fielded only 11 forwards with forward Liam O’Brien missing the game with an undisclosed injury. … Okposo returned after missing one game with a lower-body injury.

FOLLOWING

Sabres: In Vegas Monday night to complete a three-game trip.

Coyotes: They host Montreal on Monday night.

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