Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - In a low-scoring affair on Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres managed to earn another point and keep a seven-game point streak alive, but fell in overtime to the visiting Utah Mammoth, 2-1, at KeyBank Center.
A trio of players skated against their former teams on Tuesday, thanks to an offseason trade this past summer between the two clubs. JJ Peterka returned to Buffalo with the Mammoth, while Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring faced their former teammates on Tuesday night for the first time.
Early in the first period, it was Kesselring getting a prime scoring chance in front of the Utah net that was stopped by Karel Vejmelka.
Neither team was able to score in the opening period. Buffalo had a pair of power play chances, but were 0-for-2 on the man advantage.
The Mammoth were outshot by the Sabres, 9-7, in the first period.
The game remained scoreless through two periods, as Utah outshot the Sabres, 16-5, in the second frame. Alex Lyon was strong in net for Buffalo, stopping all 23 shots faced to that point of the night.
Less than four minutes into the third period, Utah was able to break the stalemate and get the first goal of the game.
A wrist shot from Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz beat Lyon on the glove side for a 1-0 Utah advantage. Clayton Keller made the pass that helped set up the game's first goal. John Marino was also credited with an assist.
Noah Ostlund was able to record his first-career NHL goal on a bouncing puck in front of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Isak Rosen was able to hit the puck out of the air over top of the net, and help guide the puck to Ostlund for the game-tying goal. He was rewarded with the lone assist on the goal that evened the game midway through the third period.
Neither team was able to score the game-winning goal in regulation, as the Sabres were outshot, 33-17, by Utah through three periods.
Keller was able to score less than a minute into overtime to give Utah a 2-1 victory. It was his fifth goal of the season, as he was able to cut to the front of the net and slide the game-winning goal across the goal line.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
UTA: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
UTA: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 7:50 - Noah Ostlund (1) (Isak Rosen)
UTA: 3:58 - Nick Schmaltz (8) (Clayton Keller, John Marino)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
UTA: 0:47 - Clayton Keller (5) (Mikhail Sergachev, Karel Vejmelka)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Lyon - BUF
2.) Noah Ostlund - BUF
3.) Clayton Keller - UTA
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What's next:
The Sabres have another home game slated for Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. Puck drop from KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.