Reinhart scores 2 goals, Sabres beat Predators 4-1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A dormant Sabres power play came to life to propel them to a second straight win.
Sam Reinhart scored twice and Jamie McGinn and Ryan O'Reilly also had goals in Buffalo's 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Before Saturday, Buffalo had not scored on the power play in their previous five games.
"Critical," Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. "We've had the power-play situation before recently and it's been at critical times. I'm not sure that was the prettiest two goals on a five-minute major, but we got pucks there."
Nashville's Mike Fisher had the game's first goal at 11:42 of the opening period and has scored in three straight for the Predators, who have lost five of six.
They held the 1-0 lead until midway through the second, when Viktor Arvidsson was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct. Inside the Buffalo zone, Arvidsson's stick hit Sabres defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo in the throat at 11:43.
"It was tough for Arvi," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "I don't think he had any bad intentions, but he just ran into somebody and the stick got caught a little bit high. Just a tough turn of events."
Colaiacovo did not return. Bylsma said Colaiacovo was taken to the hospital as a precaution and was doing "OK."
"He did go to the hospital, he's there now, but I guess they are saying he has a dented trachea," Bylsma said.
On the five-minute power play, McGinn struck first at 13:09, when he corralled the rebound from his own shot and put it past Juuse Saros, who made his NHL debut. Reinhart then beat Saros on the glove side with a wrist shot from the high slot at 16:13.
Reinhart got his second at 58 seconds of the third period. Saros denied his initial shot, but the rebound got stuck on the goaltender's skate and the puck trickled across the goal line.
It was the first multi-goal game of Reinhart's career.
"The chances have been there, so to see a couple go in was huge for my confidence," Reinhart said.
O'Reilly added an empty-net goal at 17:47.
Buffalo goaltender Chad Johnson finished with 28 saves and Saros had 20.
"Of course always when you have a new situation gives a little extra butterflies, but I think I handled it pretty well," the 20-year-old Finn said of seeing his first NHL action.
NOTES: Nashville RW Craig Smith played his 300th career NHL game. ... Saros and Arvidsson were recalled earlier Saturday from Milwaukee of the AHL. ... The Predators are 11-2-2 when scoring first this season. ... The Sabres are 7-4-0 all time in Nashville. ... Kane has points in his last six games played against the Predators.