The Buffalo Sabres enter the All-Star break following a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas wasted little time taking a 1-0 lead over the Sabres in the opening period. Reilly Smith scored his third goal of the season on a 2-on-1 opportunity. William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault were credited with the assists on the goal that came just 33 seconds into the game.
Brett Howden extended the Golden Knights' lead to 2-0 with under two minutes remaining in the first period. The goal was Howden's seventh of the season and third-straight game with a score. Mark Stone was awarded the lone assist.
Marchessault and the Golden Knights picked up right where they left off from the opening period. He scored a power play goal a minute-and-a-half into the second period. Nicolas Roy and Karlsson assisted while Alex Tuch was in the penalty box for slashing.
Keegan Kolear scored shorthanded less than three minutes later to balloon Vegas' lead to 4-0 in the middle frame. Howden was credited with the only assist on the special teams goal.
Tuch scored his fifth goal of the season late in the second period to trim the Sabres' deficit to 4-1 in the second. The forward was able to score against his former team on a 2-on-1 opportunity for score. Henri Jokiharju received the lone assist.
Mark Stone scored just over a minute into the third period to re-establish a four-goal lead for Vegas, 5-1. It marked the third-straight period the Golden Knights scored less than two minutes into a period.
John Hayden scored his first goal as a member of the Sabres after he tipped in Tage Thompson's shot part way through the third period to trim Buffalo's deficit to 5-2.
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GAME RECAP:
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
VGK: 0:33 - Reilly Smith (12) (William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault); 18:19 - Brett Howden (7) (Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty)
Second Period:
BUF: 16:00 - Alex Tuch (5) (Henri Jokiharu)
VGK: 1:31 - Jonathan Marchessault (20) PPG (Nicolas Roy, William Karlsson); 4:27 - Keegan Kolesar (4) SHG (Brett Howden)
Third Period:
BUF: 12:23 - John Hayden (1) (Tage Thompson)
VGK: 1:14 - Mark Stone (8) PPG (Max Pacioretty, Nolan Patrick)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 14:23 - Mark Pysyk (Holding - 2 min.); 19:55 - Alex Tuch (Slashing - 2 min.)
VGK: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 7:03 - Rasmus Dahlin (Interference - 2 min.)
VGK: 2:58 - Brayden McNabb (Hooking - 2 min.); 12:09 - Keegan Kolesar (Hooking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 11:22 - Casey Fitzgerald (10-minute misconduct); 12:42 - Rasmus Asplund (Holding - 2 min.)
VGK: 11:22 - Max Pacioretty (10 minute misconduct)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Brett Howden - VGK
2.) Reilly Smith - VGK
3.) Robin Lehner - VGK
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What's next:
The Sabres will now head into the NHL All-Star Break with a 14-24-7 record through 45 games. Only one Sabres player will represent the team at the All-Star Game this weekend in Las Vegas, as Rasmus Dahlin will make the first All-Star Game appearance of his career.
Buffalo is next back in game action on Thursday, Feb. 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. EST with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST with Schopp and the Bulldog.
