BUFFALO, NY. - The Calgary Flames scored four goals in the third period to upend the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. The two teams entered the period tied at two before the offensive outburst by Calgary.
Calgary was able to kill of an early penalty and scored just over a minute later at even strength to open up a 1-0 lead over the Sabres. Rasmus Andersson came down from the blue line and was able to collect a rebound chance to score his fifth goal of the season. Yegor Sharangovich and Kevin Bahl assisted on the game's first goal.
The Flames were able to double their lead to 2-0 midway through the first period. Joel Farabee was able to get to the front of the net and receive a pass from Nazem Kadri from below the goal line. Yegor Sharangovich made the initial pass that helped create the chance.
The Sabres thought they had halved the deficit to 2-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the opening period on a Rasmus Dahlin shot. However, Calgary challenged for goaltender interference and it was successful. The referees determined that Tage Thompson interfered with Devin Cooley and the score remained 2-0.
Buffalo was outshot by the Flames 11-5 in the first period. Each team failed to score on the power play with both teams having one chance on the man advantage in the first.
The Sabres defense got in on the scoring in the second period. This time with the goal standing to allow the team to cut their deficit in half. Beck Malenstyn helped create a turnover in the offensive zone to allow Mattias Samuelsson to score.
Samuelsson's goal gave the defenseman a three-game point streak. It allowed the Sabres to pull within a goal, 2-1, in the second.
Thompson was able to get the game-tying goal late in the second period after a pass by Samuelsson back to the blue line that made the score 2-2 between the Sabres and Calgary.
The goal was Thompson's 10th of the season. Samuelsson's second point of the night came on the primary assist to the goal. Dahlin was credited with the secondary assist.
The Flames were able to score just over two minutes into the third period to re-establish their lead over Buffalo. Morgan Frost scored his fourth goal of the season after gaining position by the crease and receiving a Jonathan Huberdeau pass. Huberdeau and Matt Coronato were credited with assists on the goal that made it 3-2 in favor of Calgary.
The visitors scored two more goals within about two minutes of each other to extend the lead out to 5-2 in the third period. Mikael Backlund's fourth goal of the year made it a two-goal advantage for the Flames, while Farabee's second goal of the night ballooned the lead to three over Buffalo.
Calgary would cap the scoring thanks to a fortunate bounce off of the glass behind the net. The shot by Coronato deflected off the glass behind Colten Ellis and then hit the goaltender's leg on its way into the net. The goal made it 6-2 in favor of the Flames.
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: NONE
CGY: 5:58 - Rasmus Andersson (5) (Yegor Sharangvich, Kevin Bahl). 12:04 - Joel Farabee (3) (Nazem Kadri, Yegor Sharangvich)
Second Period
BUF: 10:21 - Mattias Samuelsson (4) (unassisted). 15:57 - Tage Thompson (10) (Mattias Samuelsson, Rasmus Dahlin)
CGY: NONE
Third Period
BUF: NONE
CGY: 2:02 - Morgan Frost (4) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Matt Coronato). 7:34 - Mikael Backlund (4) (Rasmus Andersson). 9:50 - Joel Farabee (4) (Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri)
Three Stars of the Game
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What's Next
The Sabres will remain at KeyBank Center for their third game of a four-game homestand, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550 begins at 6:00 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog. The puck will drop just after 7:00 p.m.