The Buffalo Sabres could not preserve a two-goal lead in the third period, allowing the Columbus Blue Jackets to score three unanswered goals for a 4-3 overtime win at KeyBank Center on Thursday night.
A bad break nearly halfway through the opening period ended up in the Sabres' net to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. Jack Roslovic was credited with his eighth goal of the season after flipping the puck from the boards toward the net, and it hit off of Mark Pysyk's skate. Vladislav Gavrikov and Trey Fix-Wolansky were credited with assists.
The Blue Jackets outshot Buffalo 14-7 in the opening twenty minutes, thanks in part to a minor penalty by Dylan Cozens. The Sabres best scoring chance of the period came late in the frame when Jeff Skinner hit the goal post.
It took the Sabres less than four minutes into the second period to tie the game at 1-1 after a face-off victory. Rasmus Dahlin took a shot from the point and Tage Thompson caused Elvis Merzlikins to mishandle the shot and cross the goal line. There was a review to determine if Thompson touched the puck with a high stick, but it was confirmed.
The Sabres used sustained offensive zone pressure to lead to a go-ahead goal with less than two minutes to go in the middle frame. Kyle Okposo finished off the chance for Buffalo to give the team a 2-1 lead. It was the veteran's ninth goal of the season. Defensemen Mark Jankowski and Pysyk were awarded the assists.
Alex Tuch was able to double the Sabres lead to 3-1 just 12 seconds into the third period. The forward beat Merzlikins for his sixth goal of the season. Jeff Skinner made the pass that helped setup the chance, he recieved an assist on the score along with Thompson.
Brendan Gaunce was able to beat Dustin Tokarski with a shot along the ice just a few minutes later to bring Columbus back within a goal, 3-2. It was the forward's first goal of the season and seventh of his NHL career.
Columbus took advantage of their second power play of the game to tie the score at 3-3 late in the third. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his 13th goal of the year while Okposo was in the penalty box for holding.
Jakub Voracek scored on the first, and only, shot in overtime for his second goal of the year and give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over Buffalo. It capped the comeback for the visitors after trailing by a pair early in the third period.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: none
CBJ: 9:05 - Jack Roslovic (8) (Vladislav Gavrikov, Trey Fix-Wolansky)
Second Period
BUF: 3:27 - Rasmus Dahlin (8) (Henri Jokiharju, Tage Thompson)
18:23 - Kyle Okposo (9) (Mark Jankowski, Mark Pysyk)
CBJ: none
Third Period
BUF: 0:12 - Alex Tuch (6) (Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson)
CBJ: 4:48 - Brendan Gaunce (1) (Dean Kukan)
14:25 - Oliver Bjorkstrand (13) PPG (Patrik Laine, Jakub Voracek)
Overtime
BUF: none
CBJ: 0:16 - Jakub Voracek (2) (Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 13:56 - Dylan Cozens (2 min., tripping)
CBJ: none
Second Period
BUF: none
CBJ: none
Third Period
BUF: 13:31 - Kyle Okposo (2 min., holding)
CBJ: none
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Jakub Voracek
2. Rasmus Dahlin
3. Alex Tuch
