Buffalo, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres were unable to preserve a two-goal lead after a period, losing 6-2 to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres scored first thanks to a shot from Sam Lafferty toward the net that was deflected by Vince Dunn. The Seattle defenseman stuck his stick out, causing the puck to flutter past Joey Daccord and into the net.
Peyton Krebs and JJ Peterka assisted on the game's first goal that allowed the Sabres to enioy a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo doubled the lead to 2-0 thanks to a goal on their first power play attempt of the game. Jack Quinn used a one-timer from a pass from Rasmus Dahlin to record a goal for the second straight game.
Dahlin and JJ Peterka were credited with the assists on the special team's goal. Peterka assisted on each of the first two Buffao goals in the game.
Buffalo outshot the Kraken 15-7 in the opening period. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was able to stop all seven chances to preserve the two-goal lead for the Sabres through a period.
The Kraken used a fortuitous bounce off of the shin guard of Jason Zucker to get on the scoreboard and trim their deficit to a goal, late in the second period. Ryker Evans took the shot that deflected off of the Sabres' forward to beat Luukkonen.
Seattle was able to tie the game 2-2 before the end of the second period. Andre Burakovsky was able to slip behind Buffalo's defense and score on a second chance opportunity. The forward's fourth goal of the season came with less than a minute remaining in the middle frame.
Two goals in less than 40 seconds allowed Seattle to open up a 4-2 lead against the Sabres early in the third period. Oliver Bjorkstrand was credited with the go-ahead goal after a puck in the air hit Jacob Bryson and the defenseman swiped the puck into his own net, accidentally. Kappo Kakko scored 38 seconds later to double the lead.
Kakko added his second goal of the period just under two minutes later on the power play. His ninth goal of the season extended Seattle's lead to 5-2 over Buffalo. It came while Rasmus Dahlin was in the penalty box serving a minor penalty for tripping.
Brandon Tanev scored an empty net goal with just over three minutes remaining in regulation to cap the four-goal victory for the visitors.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 2:37 - Sam Lafferty (2) (Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka). 17:16 - Jack Quinn (8) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin)
SEA: NONE
Second Period
BUF: NONE
SEA: 12:48 - Ryker Evans (5) (Chandler Stephenson). 19:12 - Andre Burakovsky (4) (Joshua Mahura, Chandler Stephenson)
Third Period
BUF: NONE
SEA: 3:08 - Oliver Bjorkstrand (12) (unassisted). 3:46 - Kaapo Kakko (8) (Joshua Mahura, Jaden Schwartz). 5:26 - Kaapo Kakko (9) PPG (Jared McCann, Shane Wright). 16:25 - Brandon Tanev (8) (Jared McCann, Jamie Oleksiak)
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Stats of the Game
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Three Stars of the Game
1.Kaapo Kakko
2. Joey Daccord
3. Joshua Mahura
What's Next
The Sabres will have a few days before getting back to game action on Wednesday. Buffalo is scheduled to host the Carolina Hurricanes at 6:00 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550. The Steve Foley Law Pregame Show with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begins at 5:00 p.m.