Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Captain Kyle Okposo helped lead the Buffalo Sabres with a hat-trick, while Casey Mittelstadt added a pair of goals in the team's 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
Thursday's game marked the first contest for the Sabres in 10 days, after last playing on Dec. 19 due to the holiday break and the blizzard that struck Buffalo during the Christmas weekend.
Mittelstadt scored his sixth goal of the season just after a power play chance expired thanks to a fortuitous bounce that landed at the side of the net. JJ Peterka's shot was blocked, but the puck ended up on Mittelstadt's stick for the opening goal. Peterka and Owen Power were credited with the assists on the goal that gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo outshot Detroit 14-7 in the opening 20 minutes. The Sabres controlled the play early, while the visitors were able to create offense late in the first frame.
Jeff Skinner wasted little time in the second period, scoring just over a minute into the frame for his 17th of the season. The unassisted goal extended the Sabres' lead to 2-0.
A power play goal midway through the second period ballooned Buffalo's lead to 3-0 over the Red Wings. Mittelstadt was able to score his second goal of the game, and seventh overall on the season.
Okposo added a pair of goals in the middle frame to help open up the Sabres' lead to 5-0 in the second period. Both of the captain's goals came at even strength.
Dominik Kubalik scored twice early in the third period to help bring Detroit to within three goals, 5-2.
Kubalik's first of the period came off of a Buffalo turnover in their own zone. Elmer Soderblom helped create the turnover and assisted on the goal.
Less than two minutes later, Kubalik's 12th goal of the season came on the power play with Rasmus Dahlin in the penalty box for holding. Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren were credited with the assists on the goal that trimmed Buffalo's lead to three.
The game got interesting with 12:49 remaining in regulation as Jordan Oesterle fired home his second goal of the season for the Red Wings to cut the deficit to 5-3.
However, Okposo and the Sabres took advantage of Magnus Hellberg being pulled for an extra skater late in the third period. The captain converted for the hat-trick with 3:38 left in regulation to extend Buffalo's lead back to three, 6-3.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 15:32 - Casey Mittelstadt (6) (JJ Peterka, Owen Power)
DET: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 1:20 - Jeff Skinner (17) (Unassisted); 10:28 - Casey Mittelstadt (7) PPG (Owen Power, JJ Peterka); 11:21 - Kyle Okposo (4) (Zemgus Girgensons, Peyton Krebs); 14:02 - Kyle Okposo (5) (Tyson Jost)
DET: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 16:22 - Kyle Okposo (6) ENG (Zemgus Girgensons, Dylan Cozens)
DET: 2:35 - Dominik Kubalik (11) (Elmer Soderblom); 4:23 - Dominik Kubalik (12) PPG (Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren); 7:11 - Jordan Oesterle (2) (Andrew Copp, Jonatan Berggren)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 18:51 - Owen Power (Interference - 2 min.)
DET: 13:29 - Jonatan Berggren (Tripping - 2 min.); 18:31 - Adam Erne
(Cross-checking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 16:48 - JJ Peterka (Embellishment - 2 min.)
DET: 9:14 - Elmer Soderblom (Tripping - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 3:34 - Rasmus Dahlin (Holding - 2 min.)
DET: 9:12 - Moritz Seider (Roughing - 2 min,); 17:28 - Joe Veleno
(Slashing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Kyle Okposo - BUF
2.) Casey Mittelstadt - BUF
3.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will head out on the road to end 2022 and ring in the 2023 calendar year.
The first game of Buffalo's three-game road trip takes place on Saturday against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. The Sabres and Bruins will drop the puck at 1 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol begins at 12 p.m. EST.
