Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Jason Zucker produced a "Gordie Howe hat-trick" on Friday night, but it was not enough for the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres took advantage of their second power play chance early in the first period to open up a one-goal lead. Dylan Cozens was able to score his first goal of the season on a chance at the side of the net.
Zucker re-directed the puck right to Cozens, as the veteran winger and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin were credited with the assists to give Buffalo a short-lived 1-0 lead.
Bo Horvat was able to convert on a partial breakaway and beat Sabres goalie Devon Levi to even the score, 1-1. His fourth goal of the season came just 40 seconds after Cozens' power play goal.
New York was able to gain the lead early in the second period after successfully killing off two penalties. It included 24 seconds of a two-man advantage for the Sabres.
However, soon after the penalties expired, rookie winger Maxim Tsyplakov was able to score his second goal of the season and give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.
The game was momentarily stopped after Jordan Greenway delivered a hit along the boards to Mike Reilly. The Islanders defenseman was tended to by trainers from both teams before eventually being helped off the ice.
Greenway was originally assessed a five-minute major penalty, but it was rescinded by the officials after the automatic review during the delay.
The Islanders extended their lead to 3-1 in the second period thanks to a power play goal midway through the period. Kyle Palmieri benefited from a no-look pass from Tsyplakov, and scored his fifth goal of the year.
The goal came while defenseman Bowen Byram was in the penalty box for hooking.
Buffalo had an early chance in the third period after Zucker was awarded a penalty shot nearly five minutes into the frame. However, it was while at 5-on-5 where Zucker trimmed the Sabres' deficit to one. He tipped a shot from Tage Thompson into the net to make it a 3-2 contest.
New York was able to answer, though, with a fortuitous bounce off the boards right to Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The forward was able to slide the puck into the open net for a 4-2 Islanders lead nearly midway through the third period.
The Sabres were able to score with just over a minute remaining in regulation to get back to within a goal, 4-3. Owen Power was able to score on a second chance opportunity at the top of the crease.
The goal came with Levi pulled in favor of the extra attacker.
Buffalo had a few more chances in the final minute of play, but were unable to get the game-tying goal and send the game to overtime.
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Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 9:03 - Dylan Cozens (1) PPG (Jason Zucker, Rasmus Dahlin)
NYI: 9:43 - Bo Horvat (4) (Anders Lee)
Second Period
BUF: NONE
NYI: 5:25 - Maxim Tsyplakov (2) (unassisted). 12:20 - Kyle Palmieri (5) PPG (Maxim Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom)
Third Period
BUF: 5:27 - Jason Zucker (3) (Tage Thompson, Bowen Byram). 18:59 - Owen Power (3) ENG (Ryan McLeod, Bowen Byram)
NYI: 8:08 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2) (Bo Horvat, Anders Lee)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Maxim Tsyplakov - NYI
2.) Bo Horvat - NYI
3.) Jason Zucker - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will conclude their back-to-back games this weekend with a matchup against the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday night. The teams will drop the puck from Little Caesar's Arena at 7 p.m. ET on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network -WGR Sports Radio 550.
Pregame coverage on WGR begins at 6 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.