Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres continue to play really well to close out the month of March, as the team was able to extend its current point streak to seven games on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center.
However, despite the game reaching a shootout, Buffalo was unable to come up with a win in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
After controlling most of the play during the first period, the Sabres got on the board first, as Zemgus Girgensons netted his ninth goal of the season.
Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler tied the game up early in the second period as he got a piece of a Pierre-Luc Dubois shot past goalie Craig Anderson.
Just minutes later, Girgensons put home his second goal of the game to give the Sabres their one goal lead back again, 2-1.
The Jets tied it, once again, in the last minute of the second period, as Mason Appleton snapped a shot by Anderson with just 21 seconds remaining.
The Sabres and Jets traded chances in the third period, with both goalies making some big saves. However, the score remained tied at 2-2, and eventually required overtime.
Buffalo failed to take advantage of a power play chance in overtime, as Dubois went to the box for slashing.
The two teams headed to the shootout, where Winnipeg The Jets got goals from all three of their shootout attempts. It was Wheeler scoring the game-winning tally, despite Buffalo getting goals from Victor Olofsson and Alex Tuch in Rounds 2 and 3 of shooters.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 14:39 - Zemgus Girgensons (9) (Will Butcher, Kyle Okposo)
WPG: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 8:24 - Zemgus Girgensons (10) (Henri Jokiharju, Kyle Okposo)
WPG: 4:13 - Blake Wheeler (11) (Pierre-Luc Dubois, Paul Stastny); 19:39 - Mason Appleton (7) (Nikolaj Ehlers, Ville Heinola)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
WPG: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
WPG: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Tage Thompson - Save
WPG: Pierre-Luc Dubois - GOAL
BUF: Victor Olofsson - GOAL
WPG: Mark Scheifele - GOAL
BUF: Alex Tuch - GOAL
WPG: Blake Wheeler - GOAL
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 19:19 - Henri Jokiharju (Slashing - 2 min.)
WPG: 19:19 - Pierre-Luc Dubois (Slashing - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 11:53 - Henri Jokiharju (Slashing - 2 min.)
WPG: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
WPG: 2:12 - Jansen Harkins (Delay of Game - 2 min.)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
WPG: 0:35 - Pierre-Luc Dubois (Slashing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Blake Wheeler - WPG
2.) Zemgus Girgensons - BUF
3.) Kyle Okposo - BUF
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What's next:
The homestand continues for the Sabres, as the Nashville Predators come to town on Friday. Before the game, the Sabres will honor long-time play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret with an extended pregame ceremony, as they raise his name to rafters.
Faceoff is set for some time after 7 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET with Schopp and the Bulldog.
