Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves on Saturday, but it was not enough as the Vancouver Canucks shut out the Buffalo Sabres, 1-0, at KeyBank Center.
Peyton Krebs was called for the first penalty of the game nearly halfway through the opening period. However, the Sabres were able to kill off the penalty and keep the game scoreless.
Neither team was able to score in the opening 20 minutes. Buffalo was credited with nine shots on goal, with Thatcher Demko stopping all nine shots. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was equal to the task at the other end, stopping all seven Vancouver shots on goal.
The Canucks believed they had the first goal of the game less than a minute into the second period when Brock Boeser beat Luukkonen with a shot from the right wing. However, Buffalo's successful coach's challenge for offside negated the goal and kept the game scoreless.
Less than two minutes later, Sam Lafferty scored a "good goal" on a rebound chance in the crease. The forward found position in front of the net and swept the puck into an empty net for his 10th goal of the year and a 1-0 Vancouver lead.
Erik Johnson and J.T. Miller fought midway through the second period. Johnson challenged Miller for an elbow to the head of Rasmus Dahlin earlier in the period.
The Vancouver forward was assessed a two-minute elbowing minor on that play.
Mattias Samuelsson left early in the second period and missed the remainder of the game. The Sabres announced he was out due to an upper-body injury.
Buffalo was unable to solve Demko in the third period, recording eight shots on goal. They had one power play chance in the final frame when Nils Hoglander was penalized for interference.
The Sabres finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play in the game. However, the team successfully killed off both penalty kill opportunities in the loss.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
VAN: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
VAN: 2:05 - Sam Lafferty (10) (Nikita Zadorov)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
VAN: NONE
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Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Thatcher Demko - VAN
2.) Sam Lafferty - VAN
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres and San Jose Sharks are now scheduled to meet at 12 p.m. EST on Monday afternoon at KeyBank Center. Puck drop has been moved up an hour due to the Buffalo Bills playoff game being moved to Monday due to the winter storm expected to hit Western New York starting Saturday and into Sunday.