Sabres Keep Hope Alive With 4-3 SO Win at Ottawa

OTTAWA (AP) -- Jason Pominville and Derek Roy scored in the shootout and the Buffalo Sabres earned a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller stopped Antoine Vermette and Daniel Alfredsson before Jason Spezza scored on Ottawa's third attempt.

Roy forced a forehand into the net as Senators goalie Martin Gerber -- who was beaten by Pominville's shot to the top-right corner on the Sabres' second attempt -- was unable to keep the puck out as he slid into the back of the net.

Paul Gaustad scored with 1:26 remaining in the third to send the game to overtime and assure the Sabres of a crucial standings point.

Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht scored in the first period for Buffalo, which is 10th overall in the East with 83 points.

The Sabres are three points behind ninth-place Washington, and five back of Philadelphia and Boston -- currently tied for seventh -- for a berth in the playoffs.

Mike Fisher gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead early in the third with his second goal of the game.

Spezza also scored for the Senators, who moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 92 points, one ahead of the New York Rangers and New Jersey.

Fisher scored his 22nd goal 4:17 into the second to tie it at 2 before adding his second of the game -- his 23rd -- during a 4-on-4 situation 3:58 into the third.

Gerber made 36 saves in his 13th consecutive start for Ottawa.

Miller stopped 25 shots, though he had little chance on Fisher's second goal.