Kyle Okposo scores late, Sabres hang on to beat Predators

Kyle Okposo broke a tie in the third period, and the visiting Buffalo Sabres defeated the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Saturday.

Jack Quinn had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 36 saves for the Sabres, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist for Predators, who have lost three straight. Juuse Saros made 28 saves.

Jeff Skinner gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead on a breakaway at 11:37 of the first period when he took a Tage Thompson stretch pass at the Nashville blue line and shimmied before sliding the puck by Saros' outstretched right pad.

Roman Josi scored on a one-timer on a power play off a feed from Johansen to tie it 1-1 at 15:23.

Dylan Cozens took a short backhand pass from JJ Peterka and fired from the slot to put Buffalo ahead 2-1 at 2:05 of the second period. The goal was his 14th of the season, surpassing his previous career high of 13 set a season ago.

The Predators appeared to score midway through the frame when Tanner Jeannot pushed the puck in at the side of the net. Called no goal by the officials, video review confirmed the puck crossed the goal line, but the goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference, with Luukkonen being pushed into the net.

Victor Olofsson pushed the lead to 3-1 at 8:58, blasting a one-timer from the right circle on the power play.

The Predators struck twice in 40 seconds late in the period to even it up. Cody Glass found an uncovered Jeremy Lauzon pinching for a one-timer from the top of the left circle at 15:10 to cut it to 3-2. Johansen tied it 3-3 at 15:50 with a redirect tip from the slot on a point shot by Dante Fabbro.

Okposo scored short-handed at 6:43 of the third period, taking a pass from Ilya Lyubushkin and redirecting it by Saros as he passed through the front of the net to make it 4-3 Sabres.

Quinn extended it to 5-3 on a quick shot from the left circle at 16:49.