Sabres top Kraken in shootout

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres got a much-needed two points on Saturday night, as they stop a three-game losing skid with a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken at KeyBank Center.

The Sabres and Kraken both got early chances with the man advantage. Seattle defenseman Adam Larsson got called for hooking, but just as that penalty expired, Sabres winger Alex Tuch went to the box for tripping. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play.

Buffalo's penalty kill got challenged once again with captain Rasmus Dahlin off for interference midway through the first period, but moments after returning to even strength, the Kraken took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Chandler Stephenson off of a turnover in the defensive zone by Bowen Byram.

The second period started with some physicality, as Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak challenged Logan Stanley to a fight to answer for a big hit the Sabres defenseman laid on winger Shane Wright in the opening frame.

The Sabres thought they tied the game on a nice wrist shot by center Sam Carrick, but it bounced off both goal posts and stayed out.

On the very next shift, Kraken forward Bobby McMann broke in past Dahlin along the boards and beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen short side to give Seattle a 2-0 lead.

Buffalo finally got on the board later in the second period with a power play goal, as Dahlin put a point shot through traffic to cut the Kraken lead to 2-1.

The goal was Dahlin’s 100th career goal in the NHL.

The score remained the same until midway through the third period when Sabres forward Peyton Krebs snapped a wrist shot past Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer on a 2-on-1 to tie the game, 2-2.

That ended up being the final goal in regulation, as well as the ensuing overtime, as each team had plenty of chances in the extra frame to secure a win.

In the shootout, Buffalo was able to get goals from Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn, while Luukkonen stopped both Kraken shooters to help secure the victory.

With the shootout win, Buffalo improved its record this season in shootouts to 5-0.

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SCORING RECAP

First Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 12:42 - Chandler Stephenson (15) (Kaapo Kakko, Bobby McMann)

Second Period:
BUF: 15:55 - Rasmus Dahlin (17) PPG (Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn)
SEA: 13:18 - Bobby McMann (26) (Kaapo Kakko, Chandler Stephenson)

Third Period:
BUF: 11:39 - Peyton Krebs (10) (Zach Benson)
SEA: NONE

Overtime:
BUF: NONE
SEA: NONE

Shootout:
BUF: Tage Thompson – GOAL
SEA: Freddy Gaudreau – Save
BUF: Jack Quinn – GOAL
SEA: Kaapo Kakko - Save

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2.) Peyton Krebs – BUF
3.) Jack Quinn - BUF

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What's next:

The Sabres finish up their four-game homestand on Tuesday night when they welcome the New York Islanders to KeyBank Center. Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m., where you can catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550, starting with pregame coverage at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.