Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres withstood two early goals from the Washington Capitals, and ended up earning a hard-fought 4-3 shootout on Saturday night at KeyBank Center.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was strong in net in only his second start of the season for Buffalo, stopping 31 shots in 65 minutes of work, plus all five Capitals players in the shootout.
The scoring came early and often to start the game, as the Capitals scored twice in just 2:15 minutes.
First, it was Dylan Strome getting the Capitals on the board, putting home a rebound.
Moments later, Aliaksei Protas converted a 2-on-0 rush to put Washington up by an early pair.
The Sabres stormed back, though, with three goals to take a 3-2 lead heading into the locker room through 20 minutes.
Tage Thompson scored Buffalo's first tally, ripping home a one-timer on a pass by Jason Zucker from behind the net just 15 seconds after Washington's second goal.
Then midway through the first, Buffalo erased their early deficit as Alex Tuch scored on a break on a nice feed from Josh Doan.
Buffalo then grabbed the lead late in the period, as forward Isak Rosen snapped home his first career NHL goal in his 16th career game.
Both teams had a chance on the power play in the second period, but neither team could score with the man advantage.
The score remained 3-2 until the final minute of the second period, as Capitals winger Sonny Milano deflected a Matt Roy point shot to even the score, 3-3, heading to the final 20 minutes.
The Sabres got into penalty trouble in the third period, taking three-straight penalties in the final frame. However, the penalty kill was up to the task, keeping Washington off the board with the man advantage.
After neither team could win it in the 3-on-3 overtime, it ended up being a lengthy shootout with five shooters aside.
In the top of the fifth round, it was Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram snapping one past Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren. Then in the bottom of the fifth round, Luukkonen shut the door on Capitals winger Ryan Leonard to earn the 4-3 shootout win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:30 - Tage Thompson (5) (Jason Zucker); 10:02 - Alex Tuch (5) (Josh Doan, Owen Power); 18:45 - Isak Rosen (1) (Jack Quinn, Conor Timmins)
WSH: 1:07 - Dylan Strome (3) (Ryan Leonard); 2:15 - Aliaksei Protas (5) (Connor McMichael, Tom Wilson)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
WSH: 19:17 - Sonny Milano (1) (Matt Roy, Martin Fehervary)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
WSH: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
WSH: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Jack Quinn - Save
WSH: Dylan Strome - Save
BUF: Tage Thompson - Save
WSH: Anthony Beauvillier - Save
BUF: Alex Tuch - Save
WSH: Connor McMichael - Save
BUF: Rasmus Dahlin - Save
WSH: Alex Ovechkin - Save
BUF: Bowen Byram - GOAL
WSH: Ryan Leonard - Save
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2.) Isak Rosen - BUF
3.) Bowen Byram - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres welcome JJ Peterka and the Utah Mammoth to Buffalo on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. faceoff at KeyBank Center. Catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550, starting with pregame coverage at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.