Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Mikhail Grabovski had the eventual winning goal to lead the New York Islanders in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Anders Lee and Colin McDonald also scored for the Islanders, who had lost four of five coming in. Jaroslav Halak made eight saves in the win.
"We played our defensive style and I think we needed that right now," said New York defenseman Travis Hamonic. "It was a good team win. It was collective; a good win for the boys."
Marcus Foligno and Drew Stafford scored for the Sabres, who had won two of three coming in. Michal Neuvirth allowed all three goals on 31 shots.
"Ten shots in a game just isn't going to cut it," said Buffalo forward Brian Gionta. "You don't give yourself a chance to get back in the game."
It was the second time this season the Sabres were held to a franchise-record 10 shots, as the team was also held to 10 by Toronto on Oct. 28.
New York got on the board 16:19 into the first on McDonald's first of the season, as he finished off a feed from Casey Cizikas with a one-timer from the right wing.
The Islanders made it a 2-0 game halfway through the second on the power play as Hamonic sent a shot on net from the right wing that hit off the backboards, with Lee picking up the puck to the left of the net and stuffing it in.
It was 3-0 just over a minute later as Frans Nielsen won a right circle faceoff back to Hamonic, who skated to the low right circle before sending the puck back to the slot where Grabovski wristed it home.
Buffalo got one back a minute later as Nikita Zadorov's shot from the left wing was stopped, and Foligno was able to knock home the rebound as he crashed the net.
The Sabres made it a one-goal game with 5:03 to play in the second off a turnover that saw Stafford skate the puck down the right wing and shift the puck to the backhand before tucking it in one-handed.
New York's defense, though, shut Buffalo down in the third period, holding the team to just two shots to finish off the contest.
Game Notes
New York hosts Edmonton on Tuesday ... Buffalo hosts Ottawa on Tuesday ... Hamonic had two assists ... Buffalo went 0-for-3 on the power play, while New York was 1-for-2 ... Before the game, the Islanders placed forward Michael Grabner on injured reserve and recalled forwards Colin McDonald and Harry Zolnierczyk under emergency conditions.
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