By Jonah Bronstein, Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane scored, Robin Lehner made 23 saves, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 on Thursday night.
The Sabres moved within three points of Toronto for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They have won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Jan. 20-24.
Lehner got his fifth career shutout and second of the season.
The Avalance lacked energy in the fourth of a season-long five-game road trip. Colorado has lost five in a row and 11 straight on the road. This was the Avalanche's ninth shutout loss.
Calvin Pickard made 30 saves.
Buffalo took a 1-0 lead 48 seconds into the second period when Reinhart scored on a power play. Reinhart gathered the rebound off Rasmus Ristolainen's slap shot from the point and slipped a backhand between Pickard's pads for his 13th of the season.
The Sabres have struggled in second periods this season, getting outscored 63-40 through their first 57 games.
Kane got his 19th goal of the season with 4:14 left in the third period, cutting from the right wall to the front of the net and beating Pickard with a high wrist shot. Kane has 12 points in his last 12 games.
