Stafford's OT goal lifts Sabres over Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Drew Stafford scored 3:12 into overtime to lift the Buffalo Sabres past the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Saturday night.

Jordan Leopold also scored and Ryan Miller made 33 saves for the Sabres, who won for the fourth time in five games. Buffalo won its fifth straight against Phoenix.

Scottie Upshall scored the lone goal for the Coyotes, who are winless in six overtime games this season.

Stafford took a pass from Leopold and fired a wrist shot past Jason LaBarbera from the right circle to win it.

After a scoreless first period, Leopold blasted a rising shot from the point over LaBarbera's blocker to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 6:34 of the second. Leopold's power-play goal came eight seconds after Wojtek Wolski was sent off for tripping.

Upshall tied it at 12:31, scoring off a long rebound after Miller deflected Adrian Aucoin's hard shot from the top of the circles into the bottom of the left circle.

The Coyotes had two power-plays in the final seven minutes of the third, the last starting with 2:36 left. Phoenix hasn't scored a power-play goal in five games.

NOTES: The Coyotes are 2-0-9 in games decided after regulation with both wins coming in shootouts. The Sabres have one power-play goal in each of their past four games. Coyotes D Ed Jovanovski was honored for having played in his 1,000th NHL game, at Dallas on Dec. 26. Leopold's goal was his first since he scored twice against Florida on Dec. 23. An announced crowd of 13,905 was boosted greatly by Sabres fans. Phoenix captain Shane Doan's eight-game point streak was snapped.