Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550/WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres scored three times in the opening period, and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo controlled the pace of play over the first 10 minutes of the hockey game.
Vinnie Hinostroza scored on the team's 10th shot of the period to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead over Carolina. The goal came after Jeff Skinner made a pass to help create the scoring chance. Skinner and Tage Thompson assisted on the game's first goal.
Thompson doubled the lead for Buffalo after picking up the puck in the neutral zone and beating Hurricanes goalie Pytor Kochetkov with a deke at the top of the crease. The chance was created when the forward came out of the penalty box and beat a Carolina defender to the loose puck.
Thompson's busy opening period continued with a fight late in the first stanza when he defended a teammate in the neutral zone. The forward dropped the gloves with Jalen Chatfield after the Hurricanes defenseman hit Hinostroza in open-ice.
Dylan Cozens added to the Sabres' lead, 3-0, thanks to a shorthanded goal with less than two minutes remaining in the opening period. The goal came with Rasmus Dahlin in the penalty box for a cross-checking minor.
Neither team was able to score in the middle period. Carolina limited the Sabres' chances in the second to just five shots on goal. In fact, each team was credited with five shots.
Craig Anderson was strong in the Buffalo net through the first 40 minutes, stopping all 12 shots he faced.
A pair of turnovers in Buffalo's own defensive zone cut the lead to just a goal two minutes into the third period.
First, a pair of Sabres collided in front of Anderson that resulted in a chance in the slot for the Hurricanes. Jamieson Rees capitalized on the chance that made the score 3-1 in favor of Buffalo.
Just 19 seconds later, Malte Stromwell scored his second goal of the preseason thanks to a turnover in the offensive end. The goal came on just the fourth shot of the period, and trimmed Buffalo's lead to 3-2.
JJ Peterka and Cozens combined on a 2-on-1 with an empty net to help secure the victory for Buffalo. The goal that gave the Sabres a 4-2 lead led to Cozens' second point of the night.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 6:59 - Vinnie Hinostroza (2) (Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson); 10:52 - Tage Thompson (2) (Unassisted); 18:16 - Dylan Cozens (2) SHG (Unassisted)
CAR: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CAR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 18:40 - JJ Peterka (1) ENG (Dylan Cozens)
CAR: 1:45 - Jamieson Rees (1) (Unassisted); 2:04 - Malte Stromwell (2) (Ethan Bear)
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Penalty Summary:
BUF: 8:40 - Tage Thompson (Hooking - 2 min.); 15:41 - Tage Thompson (Instigator - 2 min./Fighting - 5 min./10-minute misconduct); 17:51 - Rasmus Dahlin (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
CAR: 8:16 - Ryan Dzingel (Hooking - 2 min.); 15:41 - Jalen Chatfield (Fighting - 5 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 1:34 - Alex Tuch (Slashing - 2 min.)
CAR: 1:34 - Jalen Chatfield (Slashing - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CAR: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
3.) Vinnie Hinostroza - BUF
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What's next:
The blue and gold will wrap up the preseason on the road on Friday night. The Sabres will be in Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at PPG Paints Arena against the Penguins. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6 p.m. ET on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
