Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - When Zack Metsa scored his first NHL goal at 6:13 of the third period, I don’t think he ever dreamed it would be the game-winning goal. The goal gave Buffalo a 4-0 lead with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen playing a great game.
For Metsa, he earned his first NHL contract this season, and has been very solid in 12 games played. This man has been counted out at every level, but here he is, scoring his first NHL goal at age 27.
Things got a little dicey when Tage Thompson was assessed a double-minor high sticking penalty at 8:26 of the third period.
With nine seconds left in the first two-minute minor, a puck bounced in front to Jake DeBrusk and that started a surge for the Canucks of three goals in 5:38.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff called timeout to settle his team down, and they were able to protect the one-goal lead before Josh Doan scored the empty-netter to give Buffalo a 5-3 win and 11 wins in 12 games.
All the players talked about after the final horn in Columbus on Saturday was having a good response after a loss, and we saw that. Luukkonen was spectacular, the team played with desperation, and I liked the battles along the walls.
The Sabres got rewarded for their work when a puck deflected off Bo Byram to Tage Thompson in front to open the scoring in the first period.
Byram took an interference penalty later in the opening frame, but Alex Tuch took off down the right wing side, creating a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush. Tom Willander had a pathetic effort trying to take the pass across away, and Tuch found Ryan McLeod for his third shorthanded goal on the season.
Midway through the game, Tuch made it 3-0 when Byram came through the right circle and made a perfect pass to Tuch coming through the left circle, and the Sabres winger calmly deposited his 13th of the season past Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko.
Luukkonen made 32 saves on the game, with 12 of the 35 shots against him coming on the power play.
Buffalo had no shots on just one extra man opportunity.
At home this season, Luukkonen is 6-1-0 with a goals-against average of 1.98 and a .924 save percentage.
The Sabres have won five in-a-row at home, and 7-of-8.
The win put Buffalo back into the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot with a points percentage of .585. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the first Wild Card spot at .598. The Washington Capitals are right behind the Sabres at .581.
Buffalo next plays Thursday in New York against the Rangers, who will be without injured goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
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