The Buffalo Sabres could not preserve a two-goal lead in the third period on Thursday night, allowing the Columbus Blue Jackets to score three unanswered goals for a 4-3 overtime win at KeyBank Center.
A bad break nearly halfway through the opening period ended up in the Sabres' net to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. Jack Roslovic was credited with his eighth goal of the season after flipping the puck from the boards toward the net, and it hit off of Mark Pysyk's skate. Vladislav Gavrikov and Trey Fix-Wolansky were credited with the assists.
The Blue Jackets outshot Buffalo, 14-7, in the opening 20 minutes, thanks, in part, to a minor penalty by Dylan Cozens. The Sabres' best scoring chance of the period came late in the frame when Jeff Skinner hit the goal post.
It took the Sabres less than four minutes into the second period to tie the game at 1-1 after a faceoff victory. Rasmus Dahlin took a shot from the point and Tage Thompson caused Elvis Merzlikins to mishandle the shot and cross the goal line. There was a review to determine if Thompson touched the puck with a high stick, but the goal was confirmed to be legal as Thompson never got a piece of the shot.
The Sabres used sustained offensive zone pressure to lead to a go-ahead goal with less than two minutes to go in the middle frame. Kyle Okposo finished off the chance for Buffalo to give the team a 2-1 lead. It was the veteran's ninth goal of the season. Defensemen Mark Jankowski and Pysyk were awarded the assists.
Alex Tuch was able to double the Sabres' lead to 3-1 just 12 seconds into the third period. The forward beat Merzlikins for his sixth goal of the season. Jeff Skinner made the pass that helped set up the chance, he received an assist on the score along with Thompson.
Brendan Gaunce was able to beat Dustin Tokarski with a shot along the ice just a few minutes later to bring Columbus back to within a goal, 3-2. It was the forward's first goal of the season and seventh of his NHL career.
Columbus took advantage of their second power play of the game to tie the score at 3-3 late in the third. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his 13th goal of the year while Okposo was in the penalty box for holding.
Jakub Voracek scored on the first, and only shot in overtime for his second goal of the year and give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over Buffalo. It capped the comeback for the visitors after trailing by a pair early in the third period.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 9:05 - Jack Roslovic (8) (Vladislav Gavrikov, Trey Fix-Wolansky)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:27 - Rasmus Dahlin (8) (Henri Jokiharju, Tage Thompson); 18:23 - Kyle Okposo (9) (Mark Jankowski, Mark Pysyk)
CBJ: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 0:12 - Alex Tuch (6) (Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson)
CBJ: 4:48 - Brendan Gaunce (1) (Dean Kukan); 14:25 - Oliver Bjorkstrand (13) PPG (Patrik Laine, Jakub Voracek)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 0:16 - Jakub Voracek (2) (Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 13:56 - Dylan Cozens (Tripping - 2 min.)
CBJ: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 13:31 - Kyle Okposo (Holding - 2 min.)
CBJ: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jakub Voracek - CBJ
2.) Rasmus Dahlin - BUF
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will next head to Montreal on Sunday for a 12:30 p.m. EST faceoff well before kickoff for Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. Sabres pregame coverage on WGR starts at 11:30 a.m. EST with Brian Koziol.
