A 100th consecutive sell-out at HP Pavilion didn’t bring a rousing San Jose Sharks victory Thursday night.

Instead, the Sharks fell 1-0 to the surging Buffalo Sabres and remained two points off the pace set by Pacific Division-leading Phoenix.

The Coyotes were tripped by the visiting Calgary Flames 4-2 Thursday night. While Phoenix hosts Columbus Saturday, the Sharks greet St. Louis. The Blues had an opportunity to pass Vancouver Thursday in the showdown for first place in the Western Conference but fell to the Canucks 2-0.

Buffalo began Thursday’s game five points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres have nabbed points in seven consecutive games (5-0-2). Buffalo has three regulation losses in the past 16 games.

For the second consecutive game,San Jose did not have coach Todd McLellan behind the bench.

Coming off a shut-out of offensive-minded Philadelphia on Tuesday, Shark goaltender Antti Niemi was solved for one goal in Thursday’s contest.

Limited to 19 shots on net,Buffalo turned one of its 10 shots in the first period into a 1-0 lead.

Buffalo’s Tyler Ennis jumped in front of a Brent Burns head-man pass in the neutral zone and charged up the ice on a 3-on-2 rush. Ennis dropped the puck to Drew Stafford inside the Shark blueline. Stafford was able to get off a shot from the high slot that went between the two defenders and skipped off Niemi’s right pad and into the net at the 18:51 mark.

Ryan Miller set a franchise record Wednesday when he recorded his 25th career shut-out as the Sabres topped the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. The 43 saves were the most by a Sabres goalie in a shutout inBuffalo franchise history, passing Dominik Hasek (42 saves against Montreal on Dec. 19, 1997). Miller turned back 39 San Jose shots.

San Jose fired 17 shots at Miller in the third period.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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