Sabres' Moulson denies Sharks' Marleau of goal

Up to 6 feet of snow fell in the Buffalo area Tuesday, but the major snowstorm couldn't stop a crowd of nearly 6,200 from showing up to First Niagara Center to watch the Buffalo Sabres defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-1.

Two goals from captain Brian Gionta weren't the only factors in the Sabres (5-13-2) winning consecutive games for the first time since February and their eighth straight against the Sharks. Matt Moulson's extra effort late in the third period preserved Buffalo's two-goal advantage by mere millimeters.

Sharks forward Patrick Marleau played the puck at his own blue line and found Barclay Goodrow at center ice. Goodrow fed it back to Marleau, who knifed through two Sabres defensemen and lifted a backhand shot that went off goalie Jhonas Enroth's arm and into the crease. With the puck rolling on its side and headed toward the goal line, Moulson hustled in to sweep it away at 15:16 of the third. It was initially called a goal, but video review determined that the puck did not completely cross the Sabres goal line.

After a slow start, Moulson has at least a point in four of his past six games, including a goal and two assists in Buffalo's 6-2 win Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Signed to a five-year, $25 million contract July 1, Moulson has two goals and eight points in 20 games.