The Buffalo Sabres trailed early and were unable to overtake the Arizona Coyotes in their 4-1 loss at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night. Tage Thompson scored the lone Buffalo goal in the defeat.
Arizona took advantage of an early turnover to score less than a minute into the game and gain a 1-0 advantage over the Sabres. Lawson Crouse was on the receiving end of a pass in the front of net for his sixth goal of the season. The goal came just 23 seconds into the contest.
The Sabres third power play chance of the period allowed the Sabres to tie the game 1-1 with just under six minutes remaining in the opening period. Thompson was able to curl and drag the puck at the top of the face-off dot to Karel Vejmelka's left and beat the goaltender with a wrist shot to the far post.
Thompson's eighth goal of the season was assisted by Rasmus Dahlin and Jack Quinn.
The Coyotes first power play chance of the game allowed the visitors to re-gain the lead. Matias Maccelli's first goal of the season is scored when his pass to the front of the net went off of a Sabre players skate and into the net for a 2-1 Arizona lead late in the opening period.
Neither team was able to get on the score sheet in the second period. The Sabres recorded 14 shots on goal, compared to 11 for Arizona. The Coyotes could not take advantage of a four minute high sticking double minor taken by Peyton Krebs.
There was a delay before the start of the third period due to a zamboni breakdown while the ice was being resurfaced in between periods. One of the two zambonis used was stuck and had to be towed off the ice before the surface could be completely cleaned.
Once play resumed, just over two minutes into the third period, Liam O'Brien took a shot from the point that hit traffic and found its way through. It was O'Brien's first goal of the season and doubled Arizona's lead to 3-1.
Clayton Keller scored an empty net goal with just over two minutes remaining to extend Arizona's lead to three, 4-1. Both teams were credited with six shots on goal in the final period, with Vejmelka making a total of 32 saves in the victory.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 14:26 - Tage Thompson (8) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Quinn)
ARI: 0:23 - Lawson Crouse (6) (Matias Maccelli)
17:30 - Matias Maccelli (1) PPG (Juuso Valimaki, Barrett Hayton)
Second Period
BUF: none
ARI: none
Third Period
BUF: none
ARI: 2:24 - Liam O'Brien (1) (J.J. Moser, Clayton Keller)
17:50 - Clayton Keller (4) ENG (Liam O'Brien, Travis Boyd)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 10:56 - Kyle Okposo (2 min., roughing)
15:50 - Zemgus Girgensons (2 min., interference)
ARI: 0:49 - Nick Ritchie (2 min., interference)
4:36 - Lawson Crouse (2 min., tripping)
10:56 - Jack McBain (2 min., roughing)
14:08 - Dysin Mayo (2 min., boarding)
Third Period
BUF: 4:14 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., roughing)
ARI: 4:14 - Lawson Crouse (2 min., roughing)
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Karel Vejmelka
2. Mattias Maccelli
3. Clayton Keller
What's Next
The Sabres will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night for the second game of a four-game homestand. Buffalo and the Golden Knights drop the puck at at 7 p.m. The only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray is on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6 p.m.