Dahlin's OT winner lifts Sabres over Canucks

VANCOUVER — After a disappointing homestand, the Vancouver Canucks are once again searching for answers — and hoping to find them before their faint playoff hopes are extinguished completely.

The Canucks (30-26-8) lost their third in a row Sunday when they dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the visiting Buffalo Sabres.

“This time of the year things get way harder and you can’t expect to play an easy game at this time of the year and wait for chances on the perimeter or wait for power plays or whatever," defenceman Luke Schenn said after the loss. "This time of the year, it’s a man’s game and you’ve gotta grind. And I think if we want to stay in it we need to find a lot of that in our game.”

The result came after Vancouver coughed up an ugly 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Canucks went 2-3-2 across their seven-game homestand and have dropped to four points out of a playoff spot.

J.T. Miller said the stretch is hard to swallow.

"Because for me, I think it’s effort based. I think it’s will, wanting to play in the playoffs, and wanting to beat your opponent," said the star forward. "We talked about how late in the season every team is good, there’s no excuses. I think they wanted it more than we did today.”

Miller put up a goal and an assist in the losing effort, while Canucks captain Bo Horvat scored on a second-period power play.

Casey Mittelstadt had a goal and an assist and Jeff Skinner scored in regulation for the Sabres (22-33-8), who have victories in four of their last five outings.

Rasmus Dahlin scored 48 seconds into extra time to clinch the win.

"Anybody that had any doubts about Rasmus Dahlin, just watch that game tonight. He was amazing both ways," said Buffalo head coach Don Granato.