The Buffalo Sabres kept their scoring ways going on Thursday night. The blue and gold rode the high of their six-goal third period against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, and added four more tonight against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
The Sabres got off and running in the first period of play, and opened the scoring inside the first 60-seconds. White-hot Tage Thompson struck again as his goal-scoring binge continued with his 24th of the season.
Thompson trails only Connor McDavid in goal-scoring in the entire NHL.
Later on with around seven-minutes gone in the frame, Alex Tuch netted his 15th of 2022-23 with a nifty tuck on a Sabres powerplay.
Late in the second period, what was a two-goal Sabres edge became three when Rasmus Dahlin wired an impressive shot bar-down off the Avalanche crossbar.
It was the defenseman's 10th goal of the campaign.
Colorado pushed hard in the third period, but came up a bit short in their endeavors. Goals from forwards Mikko Rantanen and Evan Rodrigues got the Avalanche within one; Rodrigues' made it a 3-2 game with 1:22 to play. Less than 30-seconds later, though, Dylan Cozens' empty-net goal helped everyone breathe a sigh of relief as the Sabres were able to pull further away as the seconds ran off the clock.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 40 saves on the 42 shots he faced in the victory.
GAME SUMMARY:
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 0:54 - Tage Thompson (24) (Casey Mittelstadt, Kale Clague); 7:08 - Alex Tuch (15) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson)
COL: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 17:11 - Rasmus Dahlin (10) (Tyson Jost, Victor Olofsson)
COL: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 19:02 - Dylan Cozens (11) ENG (Unassisted)
COL: 8:20 - Mikko Rantanen (20) (Valeri Nichuskin, Artturi Lehkonen); 18:38 - Evan Rodrigues (7) (Valeri Nichuskin, Cale Makar)
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 1:04 - Casey Fitzgerald (High-sticking - 2 min.)
COL: 6:09 - Team (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 12:42 - Vinnie Hinostroza (Interference - 2 min.)
COL: 0:55 - Cale Makar (Hooking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
COL: NONE
Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
3.) Valeri Nichuskin - COL
What's Next:
The blue and gold head to Tempe, Arizona to take on the Coyotes on Saturday night, Dec. 17. Puck drop inside Mullett Arena is set for 9 p.m. EST, and because of Bills-Dolphins on WGR Sports Radio 550, pregame with Brian Koziol starts at 8 p.m. EST on our sister station - WBEN News Radio 930.