Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Sabres received scoring from three players that recorded their first goal of the season, including a power play goal that helped lead Buffalo to a 5-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres scored their first power play goal of the season on an early chance against Detroit. Jason Zucker's first goal as a member of the Sabres came with rookie Marco Kasper in the penalty box for hooking.
Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin assisted on the special team's goal that gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Thompson and Dahlin helped combine on a second-straight goal for the Sabres in the first period. Thompson converted a one-time chance originally setup by JJ Peterka to Dahlin.
The goal has given Thompson 10 points on the season, including six goals.
However, Detroit was able to score later in the opening period to get back to within a goal. Alex DeBrincat scored from the high slot to trim the Red Wings' deficit to 2-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the first.
Buffalo finished the first period with a 17-9 advantage in shots on goal. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made eight saves in the first period for the Sabres.
Dahlin's third assist of the afternoon set up Thompson for another one-time goal early in the second period. The forward's second goal of the game extended the Sabres' lead back to two goals, 3-1.
However, Detroit answered right back with a pair of goals to tie the game at 3-3 in the second.
Michael Rasmussen scored his second goal of the season to trim the Red Wings deficit to a goal, 3-2. Then Lucas Raymond created a turnover shorthanded, converting for game-tying goal.
Buffalo regained the lead later in the period when defenseman Bowen Byram threw the puck to the front of the net and was able to score his first goal of the season. The initial shot was saved by Alex Lyon,but the rebound hit a Red Wings defender in front of the net.
The only goal of the third period was an empty net goal by Jack Quinn for his first goal of the year. The young forward was able to score from his own zone after Buffalo was able to keep a pair of Red Wings' scoring chances out of the net.
Detroit was only credited with four shots on goal in the third period, with Luukkonen making 22 overall saves in the victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 4:04 - Jason Zucker (1) PPG (Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin); 12:00 - Tage Thompson (6) (Rasmus Dahlin)
DET: 14:43 - Alex DeBrincat (4) (Mortiz Seider, Lucas Raymond)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:20 - Tage Thompson (7) (Rasmus Dahlin); 15:54 - Bowen Byram (1) (Owen Power, Dylan Cozens)
DET: 3:51 - Michael Rasmussen (2) (Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson);
11:02 - Lucas Raymond (1) SHG (Unassisted)
Third Period:
BUF: 19:12 - Jack Quinn (1) ENG (Unassisted)
DET: NONE
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Three Stars of the Game:
1. Tage Thompson - BUF
2. Rasmus Dahlin - BUF
3. Jack Quinn - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres remain home to welcome the Florida Panthers for the second time early in the season on Monday night at KeyBank Center. The puck drops just after 7 p.m. ET on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with the Steve Foley Law Pregame Show beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.