For the first time since Nov. 19, 2019, the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild played a hockey game against one another. The last matchup went Minnesota's way in Buffalo, a 4-1 win at KeyBank Center.
On Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, it was the Sabres getting the last laugh by way of a 3-2 shootout victory.
The Wild opened the scoring in the first period of play. At about the halfway point of the frame, defenseman Jon Merrill fired a one-timer from the top of the right face-off circle that beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
The Sabres tied the game about eight minutes into the second period, when a Henri Jokiharju shot from the point was deflected in behind Minnesota goalie Cam Talbot. Doing the damage was Dylan Cozens; the goal was his eighth of the season.
It looked like the two teams would break for the third period tied at one goal apiece, but that was not the case. Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov was skating down on a 2-on-1 opportunity, and took a shot that dribbled in behind Luukkonen ever-so daintily.
The Sabres responded in the third period of play. With 7:57 left in regulation, Vinny Hinostroza located Mark Pysyk sneaking down the slot and the veteran defenseman beat Talbot to make it a 2-2 contest.
It was Pysyk's first goal in a Buffalo Sabres sweater since March 7, 2016.
The game remained tied for the rest of regulation, and even through the five-minute overtime period. It wasn't until Tage Thompson did this in the third round of the shootout, that a decision was made on this affair.
Thompson's shootout winner gave the Sabres their second win in a row.
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
3.) Alex Goligoski - MIN
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What's Next:
The Sabres head to Pittsburgh to visit the Penguins on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. EST with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
