The Sabres got off to a fast start with a pair of goals from Rodrigues in the opening five minutes. On the opening goal, Lazar bowled over Filip Hronek at the Red Wings blue line and fed the puck to Rodrigues, who one-timed a shot from the slot into the back of the net 2:39 into the contest.
Then at the 5:00 mark, Rodrigues pounded the puck in short side on the power play to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead.
With 7:17 left in the first, Zemgus Girgensons scored on a breakaway while shorthanded after Robby Fabbri was unable to keep the puck in the Buffalo zone.
Ullmark made a crucial stop 2:03 into second when he stopped Valtteri Filppulla on breakaway as he stepped out of the penalty box.
Then Madison Bowey cut the Red Wings deficit to two when his wrist shot from the point beat Ullmark with 8:04 remaining in the second.
The Sabres caught a break with 5:55 left in the period due to a penalty. Zach Bogosian knocked the net off and was called for delay of game just before Brandon Montour put his hand over the puck and pushed it out over the goal line. The Sabres were able to kill off the penalty. Detroit's power play went 0-for-3 on the night.
After being outshot 11-3 in the second period and held to limited offensive zone time, the Sabres came out of the gates flying in the third period.
First, Bogosian scored 2:35 into the final frame when he cut into the slot and put a backhand shot past Jimmy Howard to make it 4-1.
And in front of the net, where he's found made himself comfortable recently, Ristolainen set up a screen and banged home a Jack Eichel rebound at the 3:40 mark.
