BUFFALO, N.Y. _ The Sharks' frustrations against the Buffalo Sabres in Western New York continued in the most unlikely way possible Tuesday.
The Sharks blew a three-goal lead in the third period, then lost for the 17th time in 19 games in Buffalo as Evander Kane scored 1:05 into overtime for a 5-4 Sabres win at KeyBank Center.
The Sharks had a three goal lead after Joe Pavelski's power play goal at the 6:07 mark of the third period. But the Sabres roared back with three goals in a span of 3:28.
Ryan O'Reilly scored on the power play at the 9:03 mark to cut the Sharks' lead to 4-2. Kane scored on a wraparound at the 11:36 mark, and just 55 second later, Kyle Okposo's wrist shot from in close got through Martin Jones to tie the game in blinding fashion.
Sharks coach Pete DeBoer challenged Kane's goal, arguing that the play started offside. But officials ruled that replays were inconclusive, marking the second time in the game that a disputed goal went against the Sharks.
In the first period, Timo Meier thought he had third of the season as he knocked a loose puck behind Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson. But officials concluded that the whistle of referee Marc Joannette had been blown before the puck crossed the goal line.
After the first two periods, the Sharks looked to be in total control, and came into Tuesday with a 22-2-1 record this season when leading after 40 minutes.
A solid forecheck from Micheal Haley gave the Sharks a 3-1 lead with 8:37 left in the second period.
Haley gained control of the puck behind the Sabres net and sent a pass to the front. The puck glanced off the skate of Marcus Sorensen and went right to Melker Karlsson, who scored his seventh of the season for a two-goal Sharks lead.
The Sharks had a 2-1 lead after the first period, as Joel Ward scored his sixth of the season and Logan Couture continued his torrid pace with his 19th of the year.
Trailing by a goal after Matt Moulson scored on the power play at the 7:24 mark, Ward redirected a Brent Burns shot from inside the blue line past Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson to tie the game at 1. Burns' assist gave him at least one point in 14 straight road games, a streak that started Dec. 9 against Anaheim at the Honda Center.
The Sabres came into Tuesday with a six-game point streak at home (5-0-1) and a remarkable record of dominance over the Sharks in their own building.
The Sabres held a 16-1-1 record over the Sharks at home, with San Jose's only wins coming in 2005, right after Joe Thornton was acquired from Boston, and last season, when Patrick Marleau scored in overtime for a 2-1 Sharks win.
