Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Sabres dropped their regular season finale to the Dallas Stars 4-3 in a shootout as they now look ahead to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this weekend. Buffalo finished the regular season 50-23-9 for a total of 109 points, the fourth most in the NHL.
----------
Dallas got on the board early as Esa Lindell threw the puck off the back wall behind Colten Ellis and a perfect rebound came to Mavrik Bourque at the other side of the open net to take the 1-0 lead just 2:19 into the game.
Midway through the first, the Sabres tied the game as Josh Norris snapped a wrister over the shoulder of Jake Oettinger.
Buffalo had two chances on the power play in the first period and had plenty of chances to score, though could not convert on either of their man advantages.
With Jordan Greenway off for interference early in the second period, it would be the Buffalo special teams taking the 2-1 lead as Zach Benson broke in short handed to score.
The Stars would tie it on the same power play as Esa Lindell banked in the puck off the skates of Logan Stanley to make it a 2-2 game.
Midway through the second Alex Tuch got the one goal lead back again for Buffalo as he banked in the puck off the shoulder of Oettinger from below the goal line. The goal would be the 200th of Tuch's career.
Dallas evened the score up again later in the middle frame with Justin Hryckowian beating Ellis five-hole to make it 3-3 after two periods of play.
It was a fairly low-event third period until the 6:51 mark when Conor Timmins went to the box for delay of game. But the Sabres penalty kill would be up to the task to keep the game tied late in regulation. Neither team could break through in the final minutes and we would head to overtime tied 3-3.
The chances went back and forth in overtime for each team. With 2:24 remaining Mavrik Bourque would be called for holding on Alex Tuch as he broke into the Dallas zone. The Buffalo power play could not net the game winner with the 4 on 3 man advantage and we would head to a shootout.
It would be the Stars taking it in the shootout, with Wyatt Johnston scoring the game winner.
----------
GAME SUMMARY:
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 12:48 - Josh Norris (13) (Zach Benson, Owen Power)
DAL: 2:19 - Mavrik Bourque (20) (Esa Lindell, Ilya Lyubushkin)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:32 - Zach Benson (13)(SHG) (Tyson Kozak), 11:09 - Alex Tuch (33) (Tanner Pearson, Owen Power)
DAL: 4:24 - Esa Lindell (6)(PPG) (Jamie Benn, Justin Hryckowian), 16:00 - Justin Hryckowian (14) (Unassisted)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
DAL: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
DAL: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Josh Norris - Score
DAL: Jason Robertson - Score
BUF: Jack Quinn - Score
DAL: Mikko Rantanen - Miss
BUF: Alex Tuch - Miss
DAL: Matt Duchene - Score
BUF: Josh Doan - Stopped
DAL: Wyatt Johnston - Score
----------
----------
Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Wyatt Johnston - DAL
2.) Zach Benson - BUF
3.) Josh Norris - BUF
---------------
What's Next: The Sabres begin the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as they welcome the Boston Bruins to KeyBank Center for Game 1 this weekend. Date and time of the game yet to be determined.
Zach Benson notches goal and assist in 4-3 shootout loss to Dallas
Zach Benson notches goal and assist in 4-3 shootout loss to Dallas
