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NOTES: Devin Shore to Patrick Sharp connection starting to click for Dallas Stars

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DALLAS — Patrick Sharp is starting to look like Patrick Sharp again.

After a difficult start to the season, which included a lengthy concussion absence, Sharp scored a pair of goals in the Dallas Stars 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. It was his second two-goal game in the past five contests, and Sharp has been generating more chances lately, even when he hasn’t been finishing.

“I thought it was a good month of January, found some players and good combinations. Seem to be playing better,” Shore said. “I’ve always felt that I just need to get into games and game-like situations. You can practice and train all you want, but coming off an injury like I did, you’ve just got to play games and get the reps.”

Sharp has found nice chemistry with rookie Devin Shore, who had an assist on Sharp’s second goal on Thursday.

“I sit beside him at the practice rink and the game rink, there is a little bit of an age gap there. But I find myself following him around. He’s always positive, he’s always got a smile on his face and that’s contagious,” Sharp said. “I love playing with him and I like hanging around with him off the ice as well.”

Shore has enjoyed learning from the veteran that has won three Stanley Cups.

“It’s amazing. I look to him as a role model and as a teammate he’s an unbelievable guy to play with,” Shore said. “Always trying to get him the puck. He’s got a great shot, he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”

Postgame video

Niemi sick and pulled

Antti Niemi was pulled after the first period when he allowed two goals on five shots.

Niemi has now been pulled in three consecutive starts and Kari Lehtonen has made seven straight appearances. During that time Niemi has allowed 11 goals on 36 shots.

The Stars weren’t making excuses, but Niemi was dealing with illness and Ruff said he didn’t look right in the first period.

“A lot went into it because yesterday I had one goalie that was suffering from dehydration,” Ruff said. “I had one goalie that was sick. I picked – and they probably wouldn’t admit it as an excuse – and I picked the guy that was sick ‘cause he said he felt OK. I didn’t think he looked right. So I went back to Kari.”

Lehtonen was told at the end of the first period he’d be starting the second period.

“It’s nicer than jumping in there cold,” Lehtonen said. “You have time to stretch out and get ready and I was warm now.”

The Stars have now played both goalies 10 time this season, and Ruff hasn’t had to pull the goalie in seven of the past 14 games.

The goals

First period

3:44 Evander Kane scored on a rush when he went around John Klingberg and beat Antti Niemi with a wrist shot on the third shot of the game. Sabres 1, Stars 0

9:30 Matt Moulson scored on the power play after Evander Kane buzzed around the net and made the pass out front. Sabres 2, Stars 0

10:59 Patrick Sharp scored on a wrist shot while Lauri Korpikoski screened Anders Nillson. Sabres 2, Stars 1

Second period

0:42 Jamie Benn scored his 13th goal of the season on a five-hole shot. The Sabres challenged for offside, but inconclusive evidence allowed the goal to stand. Stars 2, Sabres 2

13:16 Sharp scored his second goal of the night on a wrist shot that beat Nilsson on the stick side. Stars 3, Sabres 2

 

15:24 Tyler Seguin scored on a rebound and got credit for the goal when Cody Franson put the puck into his own net. Stars 4, Sabres 2

18:55 Kane scored on a point shot for his second goal of the game. Stars 4, Sabres 3

Sabres lineup

Tyler Ennis – Ryan O’Reilly – Kyle Okposo
Marcus Foligno – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Evander Kane – Zemgus Girgensons – Brian Gionta
William Carrier – Cal O’Reilly – Matt Moulson

Dmitry Kulikov – Rasmus Ristolainen
Zach Bogosian – Cody Franson
Justin Falk – Taylor Fedun

Anders Nilsson
Robin Lehner

Scratched: Nicolas Deslauriers, Casey Nelson
Injured: Josh Gorges (hip), Johan Larsson (wrist, elbow), Jake McCabe (shoulder), Cody McCormick (blood clot)

Stars lineup

Jamie Benn — Cody Eakin — Patrick Eaves
Antoine Roussel — Jason Spezza — Tyler Seguin
Laurik Korpikoski — Devin Shore — Patrick Sharp
Curtis Mckenzie — Adam Cracknell — Brett Ritchie

Esa Lindell — John Klingberg
Jordie Benn — Stephen Johns
Dan Hamhuis — Julius Honka

Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen

Scratched: Jiri Hudler, Patrik Nemeth

Injured: Mattias Janmark (knee), Ales Hemsky (hip), Jamie Oleksiak (hand), Johnny Oduya (lower body), Radek Faksa (lower body)

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