Sabres' road trip starts with 3-2  overtime loss to Blackhawks

Chicago, Ill. (WGR/WBEN) - Leading late into the third period while visiting the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, the Buffalo Sabres coughed up a 2-1 advantage before the home side completed its comeback in a 3-2 overtime win at the United Center.

Exactly nine minutes into the game, the Sabres opened the scoring after keeping a broken play alive.

Jack Quinn entered the Blackhawks' zone and took an immediate hit, but was able to stick with the puck and locate Josh Norris coming for support. Norris then quickly dished the puck off to Owen Power, whose long-range snap shot beat goalie Spencer Knight for a 1-0 Buffalo edge.

Just 3:22 later, Chicago responded on a power play.

Stationed on the goal line off to Alex Lyon's right, Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard located linemate Frank Nazar for a back-door tap-in goal. Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson was lax in his net-front coverage, and the Blackhawks duo made Buffalo pay.

The Sabres took the lead back before period's end, though, and it was thanks to cashing in on a man advantage opportunity of their own.

Tage Thompson uncorked a wrist shot for his second goal in as many nights, and 12th goal of the season. The shot also gave Thompson sole possession of eighth place in franchise history for goals scored, as he passed Miroslav Satan with No. 225.

After a scoreless and rather pedestrian second period, Chicago dictated the pace of play to kick off the third period. It was over eight legitimate minutes of a push from the Blackhawks, and they finally found the tying goal against Lyon and company.

Off a point shot from defenseman Sam Rinzel, it was Nazar scoring again for the Blackhawks, as his re-direction in front eluded Lyon and tied the score at 2-2.

Nazar's goal was the last of its kind in regulation, despite things getting dicey in the final minutes. With 1:38 to play, Blackhawks forward Andrew Mangiapane was able to split the Buffalo defensive pairing of Samuelsson and Rasmus Dahlin, and the latter was penalized for hooking in an effort to stop the breakaway chance.

Buffalo was able to kill off the entire minor, spanning the end of regulation and the first 22 seconds of overtime.

However, 3:12 into the extra frame, Ryan Donato called game for the Blackhawks after finding some space opened up for him to skate to the slot by a questionable pick play by forward Anton Frondell on Power.

Nonetheless, Power and the Sabres were shooed away by the officials and the goal stood to give Chicago the win.

Buffalo starts its six-game road trip on the wrong end of a 3-2 overtime decision.

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SCORING RECAP

First Period:
BUF: 9:00 - Owen Power (3) (Josh Norris, Jack Quinn); 15:46 - Tage Thompson (12) PPG (Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin)
CHI: 12:22 - Frank Nazar (6) PPG (Connor Bedard, Roman Kantserov)

Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CHI: NONE

Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CHI: 8:22 - Frank Nazar (7) (Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore)

Overtime:
BUF: NONE
CHI: 3:12 - Ryan Donato (3) (Anton Frondell, Sam Rinzel)

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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Bluestar Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Frank Nazar - CHI
2.) Ryan Donato - CHI
3.) Roman Kantserov - CHI

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What's next:

The Sabres travel to Dallas to visit the Stars on Saturday night at American Airlines Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call on the radio home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR.