Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Rookie goalie Devon Levi recorded 31 saves, while winger Jeff Skinner added a pair of points to help the Buffalo Sabres defeat the Minnesota Wild, 3-2, on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
Henri Jokiharju broke the scoreless stalemate for Buffalo with his second goal of the season. It came with less than two minutes remaining in the opening period, giving the Sabres a 1-0 lead over Minnesota.
Owen Power was credited with the only assist on the opening goal of the night.
Minnesota was able to capitalize on their second power play chance of the period to tie the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes. Kirill Kaprizov buried a one-time chance off a pass from Matt Boldy.
The Sabres did not generate much offense in the second period, however, they only needed one chance late in the frame to re-take the lead. JJ Peterka created a turnover in the neutral zone, and was able to set up Skinner for a breakaway chance the gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead.
Peterka was then able to finish off an early scoring chance in the third period to double Buffalo's lead to 3-1. Skinner and Tage Thompson made the passes from below the faceoff dot to set up Peterka's sixth goal of the year.
Minnesota's second power play goal of the night trimmed the Sabres' lead down to a goal in the third. Joel Eriksson Ek was credited with the goal, making the score 3-2 in favor of Buffalo with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation.
----------
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period:
BUF: 18:02 - Henri Jokiharju (2) (Owen Power)
MIN: 19:30 - Kirill Kaprizov (5) PPG (Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello)
Second Period:
BUF: 19:02 - Jeff Skinner (7) (JJ Peterka)
MIN: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 3:33 - JJ Peterka (6) (Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson)
MIN: 12:27 - Joel Eriksson Ek (8) PPG (Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello)
-------------
------------
Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Devon Levi - BUF
2.) JJ Peterka - BUF
3.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
----------
What's next:
The Sabres will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. The teams are scheduled to drop the puck at 7:30 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol begins at 6:30 p.m. EST.