Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres were able to get back in the win column on Tuesday night thanks to a multi-point night from winger Alex Tuch in a 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at KeyBank Center.
Tage Thompson gave Buffalo a 1-0 advantage just over two minutes into the game when he was able to find a loose puck and wire a wrist shot into the top corner of the net.
It was one of several early scoring chances for the Sabres, as Bowen Byram and Owen Power received assists on the game's first goal.
A Byram penalty provided a few scoring chances for the Canucks, but it was a turnover at Buffalo's blue line that yielded the next goal for the home team.
Tuch stole the puck at his own blue line and lead an odd-man rush with Ryan McLeod, that the Sabres forward finished for his eighth goal of the season.
Vancouver had two power play chances in the first period, but were unable to score. The team actually had seven shots on goal on their first power play, part of 14 total shots in the opening period.
Buffalo was credited with nine shots on goal in the first period, as well. However, the team did not have any power play chances.
Tuch was able to score midway through the second period for his second point of the night. His 13th goal of the season was created thanks to Byram taking a pass from Josh Norris, and skating in from the blue line toward the net.
It was the fifth shot of the period for the Sabres that helped extend the lead to 3-0.
The Sabres outshot Vancouver, 8-7, in the middle period, thanks, in part, to their first power play chance of the game. The team was not able to score, but had a couple of chances against Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves through the opening 40 minutes for the Sabres. He was forced to make saves to keep the Canucks off the scoreboard through the first two periods.
Zach Metsa was able to score his first career NHL goal in the third period to extend the Sabres lead to 4-0. The defenseman's first career NHL goal came in his 12th game with the Sabres.
Beck Malenstyn and Jordan Greenway were credited with assists on the score.
The Canucks were able to break the shutout bid for Buffalo thanks to a double-minor power play chance midway through the third period. Thompson was assessed a four-minute high-sticking penalty that led to the goal.
Jake DeBrusk was able to find a loose puck in the slot after a shot by Brock Boeser was initially blocked.
Vancouver narrowed the deficit to just one goal thanks to a pair of goals just 39 seconds apart late in the third period. Elias Pettersson scored on a shot from the slot to narrow the Sabres' lead to 4-2. It was followed up by Liam Ohgren's third goal of the year thanks to a screen in front of Luukkonen.
Josh Doan took advantage of an empty net in the Vancouver end to extend the lead back to two goals, 5-3. Rasmus Dahlin helped create the opportunity by separating his man from the puck, allowing Doan to sweep it down the ice.
It ended up being the final score of the night, and was unassisted.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:01 - Tage Thompson (21) (Bowen Byram, Owen Power); 11:24 - Ryan McLeod (8) SHG (Alex Tuch)
VAN: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 9:37 - Alex Tuch (13) (Bowen Byram, Josh Norris)
VAN: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 6:13 - Zach Metsa (1) (Beck Malenstyn, Jordan Greenway); 18:36 - Josh Doan (13) ENG (Unassisted)
VAN: 10:17 - Jake DeBrusk (11) PPG (Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Boeser); 15:16 - Elias Pettersson (11) (Brock Boeser, Evander Kane); 15:55 - Liam Ohgren (3) (Marcus Pettersson, Linus Karlsson)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Tuch - BUF
2.) Bowen Byram - BUF
3.) Zach Metsa - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will head back on the road for another game this coming Thursday night at Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.