Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres scored three unanswered goals, including a power play goal in overtime to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, on Saturday night at KeyBank Center.
Victor Olofsson opened the scoring for the Sabres midway through the opening period to give the team a 1 -0 lead.
Olofsson thought he had scored a power play goal just moments earlier, but a successful challenge by Chicago for offside negated the game's first score.
However, an offensive zone faceoff win by Casey Mittelstadt allowed Olofsson to unleash a one-time shot that beat goalie Arvid Soderblom over his right shoulder. Mittelstadt was credited with the only assist on the goal.
Chicao was able to tie the game with a power play goal of their own four minutes later. Jason Dickinson's third goal of the year came while Peyton Krebs was serving a high sticking minor penalty. The Sabres challenged for goaltender interference, but after a video review by the officials it was determined there was no interference.
The Sabres outshot and out-chanced Chicago in the first 20 minutes. Buffalo recorded 16 shots on goal, opposed to just five for the Blackhawks. Soderblom had to make several difficult saves to keep the visitors tied through a period.
A loose puck at the top of the crease resulted in a goal for Sam Lafferty to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead early in the middle stanza. Chicago's lead doubled just about a minute-and-a-half later when Taylor Raddysh was able to score. His third goal of the season was assisted by Philipp Kurashev and Jonathan Toews.
The Sabres struggled to create any offensive chances the first half of the third period. However, Tage Thompson's second goal of the season came midway through the period and brought Buffalo within a goal. Thompson was able to finish off a strong shift along with Jeff Skinner and Kyle Okposo to bring the blue and gold within a goal, 3-2.
Five minutes later, that same line was able to create another chance that led to the game-tying goal. Thompson was able to knock the puck out of the air and into the net, with Skinner and Okposo, again, being credited with the assists. The forward's second-straight goal tied the game 3-3 with about three minutes remaining in regulation.
Jonathan Toews took a holding penalty late in the third period to keep the momentum in the Sabres' favor. Buffalo was unable to score before the end of regulation, but had just under a minute of carry over special teams time in overtime.
Olofsson bookended the scoring with his second goal of the night less than a minute into the extra period. The forward used a second chance opportunity after Dahlin helped create the chance with the 4-on-3 man advantage. His shot beat Soderblom to cap off a comeback win for the Sabres.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 6:19 - Victor Oloffson (5) PPG (Casey Mittelstadt)
CHI: 10:20 - Jason Dickinson (3) PPG (MacKenzie Enwhistle, Caleb Jones)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CHI: 4:49 - Sam Lafferty (3) (Jake McCabe, Seth Jones); 6:20 - Taylor Raddysh (3) (Philipp Kurashev, Jonathan Toews)
Third Period:
BUF: 11:55 - Tage Thompson (2) (Kyle Okposo, Jeff Skinner); 16:47 - Tage Thompson (3) (Jeff Skinner, Kyle Okposo)
CHI: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: 0:36 - Victor Olofsson (6) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson
CHI: NONE
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Penalty Summary
First Period:
BUF: 8:48 - Peyton Krebs (High sticking - 2 min.); 10:20 - TEAM (Delay of game - 2 min.)
CHI: 2:53 - Philipp Kurashev (Slashing - 2 min.); 5:51 - Connor Murphy (Hooking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 19:56 - TEAM (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
CHI: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 13:12 - Rasmus Dahlin (High sticking - 2 min.)
CHI: 18:53 - Jonathan Toews (Holding - 2 min.)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CHI: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Victor Olofsson - BUF
3.) Kyle Okposo - BUF
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What's next:
The blue and gold remain home for the third-straight game at KeyBank Center on Monday night. Buffalo welcomes the Detroit Red Wings to Downtown Buffalo for a 7 p.m. ET faceoff on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550.
Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts our coverage at 6 p.m. ET.
