Sabres gut out tough win over Islanders

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It was a physical back-and-forth battle Tuesday night at KeyBank Center that saw the Buffalo Sabres come out on top of a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders.

The Sabres got an early chance on the power play with Islanders defenseman Carson Soucy going to the box for high sticking just 41 seconds into the game. The man advantage disappeared quickly, though, as center Josh Norris got called for interference in the offensive zone midway through the power play.

Neither team could score in their abridged man advantage.

Buffalo got another chance on the power play later in the first period and this time, they took advantage. After the Sabres kept a puck alive in the offensive zone, it was Jack Quinn cutting into the slot and snapping a shot past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

The Islanders got a great opportunity to tie the game in the second period, as Anders Lee broke in to the Sabres zone past Owen Power and got slashed from behind, resulting in a penalty shot being awarded.

However, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood tall in net for Buffalo, making a great glove save to keep the game at 1-0 in favor of Buffalo.

New York got a chance on the power play late in the second period with Mattias Samuelsson in the box for delay of game. This time, the Islanders took advantage, as Calum Ritchie scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Late in the second period, Lee hit Norris into the boards along the Islanders bench, and the Sabres center came up bloody and headed to the locker room.

To start the third, Sabres center Sam Carrick challenged Lee to a fight right off the faceoff. However, Carrick was injured as he hit the ice and went to the locker room holding his left arm.

Moments after the fight, Carson Soucy got called for his second penalty of the night, and this time, the Sabres power play made them pay.

Norris was able to find Tage Thompson in the slot, where he snapped a shot past Sorokin on the blocker side to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.

The physical play continued midway through the period, as Scott Mayfield ran Norris into the boards and got called for roughing. Norris retaliated was given a four-minute roughing penalty.

The Islanders tied the game later in the final frame, as Lee sent a puck towards the net and deflectied in off Luukkonen's stick, into Owen Power's skate and into the net to even the game, 2-2.

But Buffalo jumped back into the lead with just a hair more than three minutes remaining in regulation.

It was Alex Tuch making a great play from behind the net to find Peyton Krebs in front, and the Sabres forward put a shot past Sorokin to give Buffalo a 3-2 lead.

Then with Sorokin on the bench for an extra attacker, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram extended the Sabres’ lead to 4-2 with an empty-net goal from long range, deep in the defensive zone.

New York did not go away quietly, as they pushed right until the end. But it was too little, too late, as center Brayden Schenn scored with just one second remaining in the game to make it a 4-3 final.

With the win, Buffalo jumps back into first place in the Atlantic Division, improving to 100 points on the season for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.

Tuesday’s victory also carried some extra significance for the Sabres, as it marked the 2,000th win in franchise history.

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SCORING RECAP

First Period:
BUF: 14:19 - Jack Quinn (18) PPG (Josh Norris)
NYI: NONE

Second Period:
BUF: NONE
NYI: 17:57 - Calum Ritchie (12) PPG (Brayden Schenn, Bo Horvat)

Third Period:
BUF: 2:40 - Tage Thompson (38) PPG (Josh Norris, Jack Quinn); 16:59 - Peyton Krebs (11) (Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson); 18:17 - Bowen Byram (11) ENG (Mattias Samuelsson)
NYI: 13:39 - Anders Lee (18) (Bo Horvat, Matthew Schaefer); 19:59 - Brayden Schenn (17) (Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat)

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Peyton Krebs – BUF
2.) Jack Quinn – BUF
3.) Josh Norris - BUF

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What's next:

The Sabres head out on the road to visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre. With a win of any kind, the Sabres will officially clinch a playoff berth for the first time in 15 years.

Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. on WGR Sports Radio 550, starting with pregame coverage at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.