Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres needed three goals in the final 8:41 of Saturday’s game to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3 in overtime.
Despite severely outshooting the Hawks, Buffalo found itself down 3-1 trying to solve Chicago’s No. 3 goaltender Arvid Soderblom.
Saturday marked the second-straight game the Sabres had 45 shots on goal, and they had lost the first game to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
This one changed midway through the third period when Buffalo’s undisputed leader stepped up.
When your best players aren’t your best players, you usually don’t win games. Sabres captain Kyle Okposo helped his team's best players find their games during the comeback.
Sabres head coach Don Granato switched the lines around, putting Okposo in Alex Tuch’s spot on the Thompson line.
In the second half of the third period, that line never left the offensive zone, and Okposo led the way. It was amazing to see how relentless they were, winning every battle and getting pucks and bodies to the net.
Okposo was honest with his game after the win, saying he hadn’t liked his game before he went to the Thompson line.
“Honestly, before I went out in the third I just said, ‘Go get the puck and that’s it.’ So my mindset was go get the puck and not think, because a few times, I had been a little bit hesitant. I just tried to step on the gas,” Okposo said postgame.
Okposo and Jeff Skinner both assisted on Thompson’s two goals that tied the game. Why did Thompson score those goals? It’s because he went to the net and gave Soderblom no chance to make the great saves he had been making throughout the game.
Thompson is a competitor that will never be satisfied, but as he joined us with his postgame comments, he, at least, seemed more at ease. He also assisted on the overtime game-winner, and loved being out there following his captain’s lead.
“The biggest thing that stands out is he’s been around the league for so long, so when he gets into situations like this, every play that he’s making is the right one," said Thompson following the win.
“He’s not messing around with the puck. He’s putting the puck in spots where we can get it back, he’s strong on battles. I mean, that’s our leader. That’s the guy you follow, and he did a great job leading the way.”
Buffalo was on the verge of losing three games in-a-row to Chicago, Montreal and the Seattle Kraken. You can’t go on long losing streaks if you’re going to be an improved team, and as they’ve done throughout October, they found a way to win.
Not only did the Thompson line come through, but on the 4-on-3 overtime power play, Rasmus Dahlin was a sight to see quarterbacking that power play. He looked off the man at the top on the Blackhawks' penalty kill twice, and twice gave Victor Olofsson the puck right in his wheelhouse for the one-timer in the right circle. Olofsson missed the first one, but made no mistake with an absolute cannon on the second.
The Sabres ended the night going 2-for-3 with the extra man.
Remember, your best players must be your best players.
Craig Anderson has won all three of his starts, giving up just five goals.
Buffalo plays next on Monday night, as they host the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres waived forward Riley Sheahan on Sunday.
