ASS News » Zemgus Girgensons scored a short-handed goal

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Buffalo Sabres have struggled at times this season when they had the lead, often fumbling it away. Against Phoenix, a team fighting for a playoff spot, they seemed to get better while out front, leaving the Coyotes steaming mad. Zemgus Girgensons scored a short-handed goal in the third period and had an assist, and the road-weary Sabres knocked off the Coyotes 3-2 on Thursday night. "Sometimes when we have a lead, we panic a little bit," Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. "Tonight, we still panicked a bit, but not as much and it was good to see." The Sabres had plenty of energy in their third game in four nights, scoring the first goal and rallying from a 2-1 deficit in the third period. Tyler Ennis and Steve Ott scored, and Girgensons put Buffalo ahead with his goal early in the third. Ryan Miller kept the Sabres in it with a stellar first period and made some tough stops after giving up two quick goals in the second, finishing with 38 saves in Buffalos second win in 10 games. "Hes done a tremendous job for us," Girgensons said. Phoenix followed one of its best games of the season with a shaky performance. The Coyotes dominated most of the first period, only to give up the first goal, and then blew a 2-1 lead by repeatedly turning the puck over in the second period. They tried to rally with a late push, but came up short in what they had deemed a must-win game. Antoine Vermette scored his fifth goal in three games to extend his point streak to six games, and David Moss scored his first goal in 17 games for the Coyotes. "Were up 2-1 at the start of the second and do absolutely nothing -- NOTHING as a group," said red-faced Coyotes captain Shane Doan. "We had a chance to put a team away when youre up 2-1 at home, I dont think we got a shot for 12 minutes, its embarrassing. Its embarrassing." Phoenix played perhaps its best game at a critical juncture of the season on Tuesday, kicking off a five-game homestand with a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings behind Thomas Greiss second shutout in three starts. Coming off a game like that, the Coyotes needed to avoid a slipup against the NHLs worst team. The Sabres began the day with an NHL-low 14 wins and 36 points -- six fewer than anyone else -- and had allowed 31 goals while losing eight of nine. Buffalo also came in as the NHLs lowest-scoring team with 101 goals, which was 23 fewer than the next closest team. The Coyotes had added incentive after losing to Buffalo in overtime on Dec. 23, when a shot by defenceman Mark Pysyk caromed into the pants of Phoenix goalie Mike Smith, who fell back into the net for the deciding goal. Despite being outshot 21-12 in the first period, the Sabres scored first by getting traffic in front of Greiss, leading to Ennis 12th goal of the season on a rebound. The Coyotes quickly snapped out of their funk. Vermette scored his team-leading 20th goal of the season on a power play, one-timing a rebound past Miller. Moss scored 18 seconds later, swiping in a backhander on another rebound. But Buffalo fought right back. Ott tied it in the second period on a power play, punching a rebound under Greiss arm as he dove, the first allowed by Phoenix after 14 straight penalty kills. Girgensons put the Sabres up early in the third period with the Coyotes on the power play, poking the puck away from Coyotes defenceman Keith Yandle and past Greiss in the same motion. Buffalo held on behind some big saves by Miller in the closing minutes, sweeping the season series over Phoenix. "They were playing with a lot of juice and when you keep turning the puck over, it makes it hard on you," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "It made it hard on us and we kept turning the puck over until they won the game." NOTES: Referee Trevor Hanson left late in the second period after a shot by Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson caromed off the crossbar and hit him in the face. He was back on the ice for the start of the third period. ... The Sabres placed F Drew Stafford on injured reserve and activated F Matt DAgostini from IR. ... Coyotes RW Radim Vrbata played his 400th career game. ... Buffalo D Christian Ehrhoff did not play due to an illness. 00:28ET 31-01-14 Tom Jackson Jersey . The top-ranked Williams carried her winning momentum from 2013 into the new season, beating No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday to defend her title at the Brisbane International and set the tone for the Australian Open. DeMarcus Ware Womens Jersey . - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sees the commitment to the handoff and cant help but come away impressed. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Brian-Dawkins-Jersey/ . Granlund scored 2:04 into the first period. Max Reinhart, on his first NHL shift of the season, neatly stripped the puck from Zack Smith at the Senators blue-line. As he moved in, his attempted shot deflected into the slot where Granlund buried a shot past Craig Anderson. DeMarcus Ware Jersey . Saltalamacchia drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Henderson Alvarez won for the first time in three starts and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-2 on Thursday night. DeMarcus Ware Youth Jersey . The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday.ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves did everything they could over the last year to find a team willing to trade for struggling second baseman Dan Uggla. There were no takers. Ugglas frustrating, four-year tenure with the Braves ended Friday when the team requested unconditional release waivers on a former starter still guaranteed over $18 million for the remainder of this year and next. "Weve been very active making calls for the last month," general manager Frank Wren said. "We got to a point where we realized that this was probably our only avenue." Uggla received the news during an early afternoon meeting at Turner Field with Wren and manager Fredi Gonzalez. "He was professional, just like he always has been and always will be," Gonzalez said. "Now he goes out and he can explore other opportunities. Somebody will give him a chance, and we wish him the best of luck." In his fourth season with the Braves, the 34-year-old Uggla was batting .162 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 48 games and 130 at-bats. He had a 33-game hitting streak in 2011, the franchises second-longest, but also struck out 495 times in 451 games over the last three years. Uggla was benched permanently on May 28 when the Braves purchased the contract of second baseman Tommy La Stella from Triple-A Gwinnett. The teams patience with Uggla appeared to wear thin last Sunday when he was suspended one game for reporting just 30 minutes before the start of a game at the Chicago Cubs. Uggla, a three-time NL All-Star, hit .179 with 22 homers and 55 RBIs last year and underwent corrective eye surgery last summer. He struggled so much that he was left off the post-season roster after losing his job to Elliot Johnson, a journeyman claimed off waivers in late August. The Braves reinserted Uggla as the starter at the beginning of spring training this year, but he hit .212 in April and .080 in 25 at-bats during May. "It waasnt because he didnt prepare or didnt work hard," Wren said.dddddddddddd "He did all those things, so I cant answer what happened from a performance standpoint." The Braves recalled utility man Tyler Pastornicky from Gwinnett to take Ugglas spot on the 25-man roster before Fridays game against Philadelphia. Atlanta acquired Uggla on Nov. 16, 2010, when Wren traded infielder Omar Infante and reliever Mike Dunn to the Marlins. Wren soon signed Uggla to a five-year contract worth approximately $62 million. "When we made the deal, right-handed power was of the most difficult things to acquire," Wren said. "It was the perfect fit at that time. Even the first year, Dan hit 36 home runs, and we felt like this was the perfect match. It didnt continue to fit as well." After meeting with Wren and Gonzalez, Uggla spoke with several teammates before leaving the clubhouse seemingly for the last time. "Its obviously a tough day for me," first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "He was beloved by everybody in this clubhouse. He came in here every day and worked hard. He already told us he wants us to go on. Its definitely going to take a while for me (to get over)." Added right fielder Jason Heyward: "He always hustled, did not complain one time, wanted to be in the lineup. Theres not enough good things we can say about him." With 67 games remaining, the Braves are tied for first place in the NL East with Washington. Wren likes the makeup of his roster now, but will continue to consider ways to improve before the trade deadline later this month. "We have some really good pieces and we have some good, young players (in the minors) that we think can help us in the second half," Wren said. "Well look for ways to improve our club internally, maybe externally, but we do think that the foundation of a real good ballclub is here." ' ' '