Frans Nielsen

Kulemin scores in 3rd straight, Islanders beat Sabres 2-1

Published Dec. 31, 2015 8:57 p.m. ET

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Nikolay Kulemin extended his goal streak to three games, Thomas Greiss made 42 saves and the New York Islanders beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Thursday night.

Frans Nielsen scored on a power play 9:35 into the second period for the Islanders.

Ryan O'Reilly scored his 15th goal of the season and Linus Ullmark made 31 saves for Buffalo. The Sabres lost their third straight.

Kulemin got his goal 1:07 into the third period with an in-tight score. O'Reilly cut the deficit with 8:42 left off Jack Eichel's needle-threading pass into the slot during a power play.

The Sabres kept pressure on Greiss all night, starting with an early power play. With Matt Martin in the box for interference, Greiss made six saves, including three on Rasmus Ristolainen.

A cross-check from Anders Lee prevented Johan Larsson from beating Greiss moments later but did put Buffalo back on the power play. That turned into a two-man advantage after Nielsen also committed a cross-check.

The power plays helped the Sabres build a 15-1 advantage in shots, but Greiss was perfect over that stretch.

Late in the period, Ullmark stymied Lee's wrist shot off the rebound of John Tavares' shot.

Josh Gorges was called for holding 8:37 into the second, setting up Nielsen's score. Ullmark stopped one shot from Tavares and held off Lee prodding at the rebound, but the scrum pushed the puck free to Nielson, who poked it in from atop the crease. The play was reviewed and stood.

O'Reilly's goal was Buffalo's first power-play score in eight games and snapped an 0 for 19 skid.

New York defenseman Johnny Boychuk was forced from the game when Eichel dodged his late hit, sending the Islander to the boards. He skated off favoring his left arm.

NOTES: Sabres center Tyler Ennis missed the game with an upper-body injury suffered on a hit by Washington's Alexander Ovechkin on Tuesday night. ... The Islanders scratched two ex-Sabres in left wing Eric Boulton and right wing Steve Bernier. The Islanders play at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. ... The Sabres host the Red Wings on Saturday.