OTTAWA - Buffalo Sabres forward Derek Roy hopes his slow start to the season is finally behind him.
Roy scored a goal in regulation and the shootout winner as the Sabres edged the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Saturday night at Scotiabank Place.
The Ottawa-area native came into the game with just one goal and four assists in 12 games.
"I'm starting to get my legs going," said Roy, who beat Sens goalie Craig Anderson on the 12th shot of the shootout. "And together as a line we're starting to create some offence, and we're just trying to work together as a line and win games."
It was the first time in 13 games this season the Sabres have gone to extra time, marking the longest streak from the beginning of the season in franchise history.
Jordan Leopold had the other goal for the Sabres (8-5-0). Jonas Enroth made his second-straight start in goal for Buffalo after replacing Ryan Miller in the first period of last week's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Milan Michalek and Erik Condra scored in regulation for the Senators (7-7-1), while Anderson made several big saves in the final period to force extra time.
The Sabres outshot the Senators 12-4 during the scoreless third period and overtime, and 33-27 overall.
Anderson finished with 31 saves.
"I thought we played pretty good for the first two periods but I thought in the third period for the last 10 minutes or so we got a little bit more defensive, and played more to protect instead of playing a little harder to win," Senators coach Paul MacLean said.
The Senators and Sabres each scored on their first two shots in the shootout and then the next seven shooters were stopped by the two netminders before Roy ended the game.
"To get a win for the team and help contribute, it's great," Roy said.
In a span of a little more than two minutes in the second period the Sabres tied the game and took a brief lead over the Senators.
Roy found himself in the right place at the right time as he was cutting in front of the Senators net at the perfect moment to tip Ville Leino's point shot past Anderson at 10:39.
At 12:55, Leopold found his way in from the point and jammed in a loose puck for a 2-1 Sabres' lead.
Less than two minutes later, however, Smith made a great pass to send Condra in alone to beat Enroth stick side.
Michalek had the only goal of the opening period as he worked his way around Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers before putting a backhand in between the arm and body of Enroth.
"He just found a hole under my arm and I should have saved that puck I think," Enroth said. "It was a good move by Michalek though and it was a nice move."
Notes: Daniel Alfredsson (concussion), Matt Carkner (knee) and Peter Regin (shoulder) all missed Saturday's game due to injury. The Senators have now lost 43 man-games due to injury. ... Johan Hecht remain on injured reserve for the Sabres and has yet to play this season with a head injury. Tyler Ennis missed his sixth game with an ankle injury. The Sabres have lost only 19 man-games this season because of injuries. ... David Rundblad and Zenon Konopka were healthy scratches for the Senators. Mike Weber was a healthy scratch for the Sabres while Patrick Kaleta served the second game of his four-game suspension.
