Calgary, Alberta (My Sportsbook) - The
Calgary Flames will try for their first home win of the season tonight when they welcome the
Buffalo Sabres to the Saddledome in the third installment of a four-game homestand.
Calgary is 0-2-2-1 at home and most recently fell in overtime on Saturday to the surging St. Louis Blues, 4-3, their third overtime game in as many games.
Chris Clark's power-play goal had tied the game at 3-3 midway through the third for Calgary, which is winless in its last four games (0-1-1-2). Jordan Leopold had his first NHL goal and Martin Gelinas also scored for the Flames.
However, the Blues tallied with 25 seconds remaining in the extra session to nail down the win.
Roman Turek made 27 saves in the loss for Calgary.
Chris Drury ended with two assists and has nine on the season.
The Flames will finish their stand on Saturday versus Colorado, then will embark on a five-game road swing.
Buffalo enter's Thursday's Halloween tilt winless in its last three (0-2-1) including a 1-1 tie in its last game on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Ales Kotalik scored with 2:39 remaining in the third period to lift the Sabres to the deadlock, as Buffalo won just once in their last seven games (1-4-2).
Jochen Hecht started the play, carrying the puck into the Vancouver zone along the left wing. He sent a pass to the slot for Jason Woolley, who snapped a shot toward the net. The puck deflected to the low left circle for Kotalik, who swept it past goaltender Dan Cloutier for his first goal of the season.
Kotalik, who was called up from the minors over the weekend, nearly won it for Buffalo with 1:42 left in overtime, as he stole the puck deep in the Vancouver zone and was in alone. Cloutier, however, got a piece of the puck, which then deflected off the post.
Martin Biron stopped 21 shots for the Sabres, who have tallied just 12 times in seven games since October 12. In their past three outings, head coach Lindy Ruff's troops have managed only five goals.
Buffalo has had its share of success versus the Flames and is 7-1-2 in the last 10 meetings with Calgary.
In their last four trips to Calgary, the Sabres are 2-1-1.
