Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres were, once again, unable to preserve a third-period lead, resulting in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.
The Blue Jackets scored first thanks to a fortunate bounce in the offensive zone.
Yegor Chinakhov was able to collect a loose puck by the half wall, and used a deke move on Alex Lyon to beat the goaltender and give Columbus a 1-0 advantage.
Buffalo did not record their first shot on goal until after the halfway point of the first period. The team was credited with nine shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, including several on a late power play chance.
Columbus was able to record 14 shots on Lyon in the first period.
The Sabres were able to capitalize on a scoring chance past the midway point of the game to tie the score.
Josh Doan was able to find himself behind the defense and close to the Columbus goal, and managed to find space under goalie Jet Greaves to score his third goal of the season.
Alex Tuch helped create the scoring chance, as he and Conor Timmins were credited with the assists on the game-tying goal.
Less than three minutes later, the Sabres used an offensive zone faceoff win to help create a scoring chance that led to the go-ahead goal in the second period.
Ryan McLeod was credited with the goal after throwing the puck at the net and hitting a Columbus defender. The puck hit off of Damon Severson before finding the net.
Bowen Byram and Tuch received the assists.
Columbus was able to score seconds into their first power play chance of the game to tie the score at 2-2 just before the end of the middle frame.
Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored his second goal of the season while Tuch was in the penalty box for interference.
The Sabres started the third period with a 4-on-3 power play chance thanks to several penalties called at the end of the second period.
Sabres forward Josh Dunne was able to score his first NHL goal early in the third period to give the Sabres another one-goal lead. Dunne was able to whack a loose puck in the Columbus crease past Greaves, who was sprawled out trying to draw a whistle by covering the puck.
Beck Malenstyn and Mattias Samuelsson were credited with the assists less than three minutes into the third period.
Miles Wood was able to, once again, tie the game with his second goal of the season in just his fourth game for Columbus. It came with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.
After 60 minutes was not enough to declare a winner, overtime was needed in Downtown Buffalo, where Wood, once again, found the back of the Sabres net to call game.
Wood was able to direct a pass attempt from Werenski just over Lyon and under the cross bar to secure a 4-3 victory for Columbus.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 6:09 - Yegor Chinakhov (2) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: 11:39 - Josh Doan (3) (Alex Tuch, Conor Timmins); 14:12 - Ryan McLeod (3) (Bowen Byram, Alex Tuch)
CBJ: 19:44 - Zach Werenski (2) PPG (Kirill Marchenko, Sean Monahan)
Third Period:
BUF: 2:40 - Josh Dunne (1) (Beck Malenstyn, Mattias Samuelsson)
CBJ: 13:55 - Miles Wood (2) (Yegor Chinakov, Dante Fabbro)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 2:53 - Miles Wood (3) (Zach Werenski, Isac Lundestrom)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Miles Wood - CBJ
2.) Josh Dunne - BUF
3.) Jet Greaves - CBJ
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What's next:
The Sabres will travel to Boston on Thursday to meet the Bruins at TD Garden for the second time this season. Puck drop is scheduled just after 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begin our coverage at 6 p.m.