What a shot.

Seth Jones' 10th goal of the season was about as perfect as a slapshot gets. He teed up atop the left circle, and it didn't matter that Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek aggressively tried to cut the angle, because that puck was going home.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won 3-2.

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Through two periods Tuesday, and even the first six minutes of the third, the Buffalo Sabres were at the mercy of the San Jose Sharks.

The latter club carried a 4-1 lead into the middle of the third before Buffalo came up with what was surely the greatest comeback in recent team history.

And on their captain's birthday, no less.

The Sabres milked all the star power they had to claw their way back, with Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo, and Evander Kane earning the three third-period goals to tie things up. Kane scored his second of the game, and 13th of the season, to clinch the comeback in overtime.

Phenom Jack Eichel certainly played his part as well, setting up O'Reilly with a clutch one-timer to kick off the comeback, and gifting Kane with the golden opportunity to put the game in the extra frame.

Though the Sabres haven't had much success in 2016-17 - the club entered the game ranked 14th in the East - their core understands their potential.

"It's a 60-minute game," Eichel said after the win. "We got booed after the second, got some energy going in the third, won in OT. Big comeback for us."

Goaltender Anders Nilsson, who shut the door for the majority of the third and throughout overtime, echoed his young teammate's sentiments.

"It's a huge boost for our confidence," Nilsson said. "Being able to come back, it shows the character on our team."

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Much of the talk about goalies this season has focused on Devan Dubnyk, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Carey Price. Well, Braden Holtby would like a word.

Last season's Vezina Trophy winner continued his stellar play Tuesday, shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0. It's his seventh clean sheet of the season, tying him for most in the league with Peter Budaj.

While Holtby's a perfect 3-0 in February, having defeated the Canes, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins, going back through January, the Capitals have lost only one game - a bonkers 8-7 overtime decision against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which Holtby was pulled after 34 minutes - he's started of 16 in the new year. The 27-year-old was pulled against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 3 after 20 minutes, but his teammates rallied to win 6-5 in overtime.

In fact, Holtby's never been better. He now has a .930 save percentage, easily the highest of his career when he's been the No. 1 guy. He won the 2016 Vezina with a .922 number.

It's strange that last year's Vezina winner on this season's best team is flying under the radar a little bit, but that's what it feels like, especially since the Capitals are relentlessly putting the puck in the net.

Beware Holtby. Beware the crew from D.C.

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Count this one a happy birthday for Ryan O'Reilly.

The Buffalo Sabres captain earned his 11th goal of the year - on his 26th birthday - as his club mounted a comeback against the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night.

O'Reilly can thank linemate Jack Eichel for the tally, as the young pivot showcased some elite patience, drawing in the Sharks' defense before whipping a pass over to O'Reilly for the one-timer goal.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin would like a taste of the Philadelphia Flyers, apparently.

Flyers alumni are set to visit Russia next week, and according to former defenseman Joe Watson, who's spearheading the trip, Putin will suit up for the Russians - should his schedule permit.

"They never release Putin's schedule until 24 hours before because of security reasons, so Putin, if he's around, he wants to play the game against us," Watson said, writes the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac.

Watson's team is comprised of nine former Flyers and his nephews, and should Putin be in the Russian lineup, he won't get any preferential treatment.

"He'll have to earn it from us as far as we're concerned," Watson said. "We may be stuck in Siberia, but what the hell? We'll have a good time."

The trip includes an outdoor game on Moscow's Red Square.

A number of Flyers alumni turned down Watson's request to join the trip due to political tension between the U.S. and Russia.

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Vancouver Canucks forward Sven Baertschi left Tuesday's game versus the Nashville Predators in the first period and has been diagnosed with a concussion, the club announced.

Here's the collision that forced him from the contest:

Baertschi has been solid for the Canucks this season, registering 13 goals and 14 assists in 49 games.

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Tough night for Peter Budaj.

After watching Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin snipe an early goal from a sharp angle, Budaj was left out to dry by his Los Angeles Kings defense once again Tuesday night.

Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov slid a stretch pass right down main street to find a wide open Nikita Kucherov - the Russian sniper made no mistake, earning his 20th goal of the year with a five-hole tally.

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In search of his 1,000th career point, Sidney Crosby gave one back the other way.

The Pittsburgh Penguins center - who sits on 997 points - turned the puck over Tuesday to Micheal Ferland of the Calgary Flames, who promptly fired the puck past Matt Murray on the ensuing breakaway.

The goal was Ferland's eighth this season, and clearly left a bad taste in Crosby's mouth.

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Larceny.

Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson flashed the leather in outstanding fashion Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, denying Michael Grabner - the NHL's leader in even strength goals - on a clear-cut breakaway.

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Jonathan Drouin: 2, California: 0.

Make that goals in two straight for the Tampa Bay Lightning whiz kid. After potting a goal against the Anaheim Ducks last game, Drouin opened the scoring Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings with a dandy, flying up ice and cutting through the offensive zone with ease before wiring one past Peter Budaj.

Even more impressive than the end-to-end rush? This sneaky angle to find the top shelf:

Drouin's season totals now stand at 16 tallies and 33 points through 46 games.

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