Byram's empty-netter stands as winner to lift Sabres past Islanders 4-3

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bowen Byram flipped a long shot into an empty net with 1:43 remaining to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

The Sabres became the NHL’s 11th franchise to reach 2,000 wins — and the first team not added in the league’s first expansion in 1967 when the NHL went from six teams to 12. Buffalo joined in the second wave of expansion joining the NHL with Vancouver in 1970.

Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Peyton Krebs also scored for the Sabres, who reached 100 points for the 10th time in franchise history and first since finishing with 100 in 2009-10. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 saves for the Sabres.

Brayden Schenn, Calum Ritchie and Anders Lee scored, and Bo Horvat added three assists for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves.

Some three minutes after Lee tied the game at 2, Krebs scored with 3:01 left.

Alex Tuch set it up by circling the Islanders net and feeding Krebs in front for a one-timer.

And Bowen Byram sealed it by flipping a long shot into an empty net with 1:43 remaining.

Schenn scored with 1 second left, bringing the Islanders within 1.

Right off the faceoff to start the third period, Lee and Sam Carrick fought. While Carrick threw punches with his right hand, his left arm was tied up in Lee's jersey at an awkward angle. As Carrick spun and was taken down to the ice, he landed hard. He remained down in obvious pain before leaving for the locker room.

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff confirmed after the game Carrick injured his left arm in the fight.

Islanders: Host Philadelphia on Friday.

Sabres: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) tips the puck in front of New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) stops New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) on a penalty shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) skates between New York Islanders center Marc Gatcomb (16) and defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) makes a save in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

TORONTO (AP) — Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner left Tuesday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays two batters after he was struck by a 106 mph line drive.

The Rockies said Feltner exited because of a right glute contusion.

“Felt’s going to be fine,” manager Warren Schaeffer said after Colorado lost 5-1. “He took a hard line drive off the hip. Tightened up in between innings so not able to go back out, but I think we avoided something bad.”

Feltner said he was sore after being hit but didn't expect to miss a start.

“It got me in a good spot,” he said. “I'm lucky in that way but it's definitely starting to get pretty stiff right now.”

Feltner retired the first eight batters in order before he was hit by a liner off the bat of Blue Jays infielder Andrés Giménez. The ball struck Feltner near his hip and rolled away for an infield single.

“Just got all muscle,” Feltner said.

Schaeffer and the trainer checked on Feltner, who remained in the game. George Springer followed with a walk but Feltner ended the inning by getting Jesús Sánchez to ground out on the first pitch.

“He showed some guts there, going through injury,” Schaeffer said. “When he covered first to end the inning there, he was kind of hobbling around a little bit. He gave us all he had.”

Feltner struck out four in his three innings. Juan Mejia took over in the fourth.

“I thought Felt was exceptional in those three innings,” Schaeffer said. “He attacked in the zone. I was very proud of him tonight.”

In 2023, Feltner was hospitalized because of a skull fracture and concussion after getting hit by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos.

Feltner didn't pitch after April 28 last season because of back and shoulder issues. He called it “special” to be back on a big league mound for the first time in almost a year.

“Long year for me last year in a lot of different ways,” he said. “I was really grateful to pitch in a big league game today.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)