Flames drum up a "team" victory in 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres

Four different players scored and goalie Dan Vladar stopped 24 shots in his first start of the season

The scoring-by-committee approach of the Calgary Flames came through in their 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Walker Duehr, Blake Coleman and Adam Ruzicka each scored goals and a dozen players earned a point as the Flames won for the first time on their five-game road trip and snapped a two-game slide.

“I think every game we’ve been the better team," Ruzicka, who scored the game winner, told the media in Buffalo. "We just got to keep working on the little details of the game and I think we’re gonna be one of the top teams in the league.”

After a shaky first period, goaltender Dan Vladar made 24 saves — 12 of them in the third period — to collect the win in his first start of the season.

The victory will not go down as a Picasso for the Flames, who surrendered the lead three times and are still struggling to shore up their defensive play.

Speaking of needing to shore up their defensive play, the Sabres did not make it easy on themselves. Calgary had opportunities to salt away the game — Mikael Backlund failed to score with two shorthanded breakaways and Elias Lindholm also couldn’t convert a breakaway opportunity — but couldn't put down the hammer.

Now, to see whether the Flames can build off the victory when they continue the road swing Friday night against Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Erik Johnson, Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres, who received a 34-save outing from rookie goalie Devon Levi.

For more coverage of the game, visit back tomorrow morning for the takeaways.