Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - An emotional and energetic crowd was on-hand at KeyBank Center on Friday night to honor the career of Hall of Fame Sabres play-by-play broadcaster Rick Jeanneret. Before the game, the fans showed their everlasting support, as the team raised a banner with his name to the rafters.
As for the team, they channeled that energy from the crowd and used it to their advantage in a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators. The win helps Buffalo extend their current point streak to eight games.
The Sabres kept the crowd energy going early, as Peyton Krebs slammed home a rebound off of a Dylan Cozens shot just 2:14 into the game.
Nashville struck back just minutes later with a goal from Filip Forsberg to even things up at 1-1 less than five minutes into the game.
Tage Thompson gave the Sabres the lead right back with a quick shot from the slot to make it 2-1. Just a short time later, Thompson netted his second of the night and 30th goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-1.
Michael McCarron got the Predators back to within one, tipping a puck past Craig Anderson to make the score 3-2. Then with just 59 seconds left in the period, Jeremy Lauzon tied the game, 3-3, heading to the first intermission.
After six goals in the first, it was a quiet second period until Victor Olofsson blasted a one-timer past Juuse Saros on the power play with 5:35 left, giving the Sabres a 4-3 lead.
The two teams traded chances throughout the third, but the goalies stood tall. The Sabres fended off a flurry of chances from the Predators in the final minute, as they held on for the 4-3 win.
To cap off the memorable night, Alex Tuch and Cody Eakin escorted Jeanneret out on to the ice to an ovation from the rest of the team and the packed house, once again, and also for a picture with the entire Sabres team.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 2:14 - Peyton Krebs (7) (Dylan Cozens, Victor Olofsson), 6:58 - Tage Thompson (29) (Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch), 13:22 - Tage Thompson (30) (Alex Tuch)
NSH: 4:32 - Filip Forsberg (38) (Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen), 17:23 - Michael McCarron (7) (Matt Benning, Eeli Tolvanen), 19:01 - Jeremy Lauzon (2) (Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen)
Second Period:
BUF: 14:25 - Victor Olofsson (15) (Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs)
NSH: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
NSH: NONE
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
MSH: 7:14 - Yakov Trenin (Tripping - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:32 - Tage Thompson (Tripping - 2 min.)
NSH: 12:53 - TEAM (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
NSH: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Rick Jeanneret - BUF
2.) Tage Thompson - BUF
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres continue their homestand on Sunday afternoon as they host the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 1 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 12 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.
