Special teams were once again the difference in the Buffalo Sabres 6-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at KeyBank Center. Colorado scored three power play goals in their win.
Colorado scored first thanks to a power play chance partway through the opening period. J.T. Compher scored his second goal of the season with a shot that was deflected at the side of the net to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead while Tage Thompson sat for hooking.
Less than two minutes later a nice cross-ice pass by Jack Quinn foudn J.J. Peterka is the slot and the young forward was able to bury the chance. Peterka's fifth goal of the season tied the score 1-1 halfway through the opening frame. Quinn and Dylan Cozens were credited with the assists.
A late power play chance thanks to a Logan O'Connor holding penalty led to the second Buffalo goal in the first period. Thompson used quick hands to deke Alexandar Georgiev and give the Sabres a 2-1 lead with :10.7 to go in the opening stanza.
The Avalanche converted on a pair of power plays in the second period to re-take the lead against Buffalo. Colorado took advantage of a pair of penalties called within seconds of each other.
Nathan MacKinnon scored his seventh goal of the season while the visitors enjoyed a five-on-three man advantage. Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen assisted on the goal that tied the score 2-2.
Less than a minute later, Artturi Lehkonen added his seventh goal of the season to give Colorado a 3-2 lead. Just over two minutes after that, MacKinnon scored at even strength to double the lead to 4-2.
Buffalo's second power play goal of the night brought the team back within a goal, 4-3, late in the second period. Dylan Cozens converted on a five-on-three power play thanks to a pass by Thompson.
The lead was extended back to two, 5-3, for Colorado on Compher's second goal of the night. It came with less than three minutes to go in the middle stanza and was at even strength.
Alex Tuch brought Buffalo back within a goal again, 5-4, just seven seconds into the third period. Thompson won the face-off to start the period, winning the possession for Buffalo. Dahlin made the pass to Tuch that resulted in his 200th career NHL point.
The only other goal of the game came thanks to a Mikko Rantanen empty net goal with less than a minute to go in the game, giving Colorado a two-goal victory.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 10:19 - J.J. Peterka (5) (Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens)
19:49 - Tage Thompson (15) PPG (Jeff Skinner, Dylan Cozens)
COL: 8:48 - J.T. Compher (2) PPG (Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews)
Second Period
BUF: 14:05 - Dylan Cozens (9) PPG (Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner)
COL: 9:00 - Nathan MacKinnon (7) PPG (Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen)
9:49 - Artturi Lehnonen (7) PPG (Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen)
11:53 - Nathan MacKinnon (8) (Cale Maker, Devon Toews)
17:16 - J.T. Compher (3) (Logan O'Connor, Andrew Cogliano)
Third Period
BUF: 0:07 - Alex Tuch (9) (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson)
COL: 19:25 - Mikko Rantanen (14) ENG (J.T. Compher, Nathan MacKinnon)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 7:27 - Tage Thompson (2 min., hooking)
COL: 0:54 - Josh Manson (2 min., cross-checking)
11:10 - Nathan MacKinnon (2 min., holding)
19:04 - Logan O'Connor (2 min., holding)
Second Period
BUF: 2:07 - J.J. Peterka (2 min., holding)
3:52 - Kyle Okposo (2 min., roughing)
7:45 - Henri Jokiharju (2 min., hooking)
7:50 - Owen Power (2 min., high-sticking)
COL: 3:52 - Artturi Lehkonen (2 min., roughing)
12:20 - Mikko Rantanen (2 min., hooking)
12:20 - Devon Toews (2 min., cross-checking)
What's next
The Sabres have a much needed rest the next couple of days before hosting the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night. Buffalo and San Jose will drop the puck at 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sportsradio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol begins at six o'clock.
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Nathan MacKinnon
2. J.T. Compher
3. Tage Thompson