The Buffalo Sabres scored six goals over a span of two games this weekend, but came out with an 0-2-0 record. Three goals were not enough on Sunday evening, as Buffalo allowed seven to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 7-3 loss at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus got out to the early lead on this night. The home side peppered Craig Anderson to the tune of a 16-1 shot advantage in the opening minutes, including the opening goal from defenseman Dean Kukan.
The Sabres battled back, and responded with two-consecutive goals of their own. First, it was Mark Pysyk, who potted his second goal of the season to knot things at 1-1.
The second Sabres goal came off the stick of a man who might own the hottest set of hands in the National Hockey League. After registering his first-career hat-trick on Saturday in Buffalo, Tage Thompson joined the 20-goal club after he capitalized on a Columbus turnover.
However, just 10 seconds after Buffalo took its first lead of the night, the game was tied at 2-2 when Boone Jenner scored his 21st goal of the season.
The tied affair turned into a two-goal deficit for the Sabres by the end of the second period. A trio of goals by the Blue Jackets made it a 5-2 game, before Kyle Okposo potted his 12th goal of the season inside the final minute of the frame.
That would be as close as the Sabres got for the rest of the night, as the only two goals of the third period came inside the final minute of regulation. Blue Jackets forwards Gustav Nyquist and Justin Danforth potted insurance goals; Nyquist's came with the net empty, though Danforth's came with Anderson back in the net.
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GAME RECAP:
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 15:05 - Mark Pysyk (2) (Victor Olofsson, Dylan Cozens); 17:14 - Tage Thompson (20) (Alex Tuch)
CBJ: 4:47 - Dean Kukan (2) (Yegor Chinakov, Max Domi); 17:24 - Boone Jenner (21) (Jakub Voracek, Patrik Laine)
Second Period:
BUF: 19:28 - Kyle Okposo (12) (Peyton Krebs, Casey Mittelstadt)
CBJ: 3:28 - Dean Kukan (3) (Gavin Bayreuther, Brendan Gaunce); 8:16 - Zach Werenski (8) (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Boone Jenner); 17:43 - Brendan Gaunce (2) (Patrik Laine, Dean Kukan)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 19:24 - Gustav Nyquist (13) ENG (Sean Kuraly, Vladislav Gavrikov); 19:56 - Justin Danforth (3) (Brendan Gaunce)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 5:48 - Henri Jokiharju (Tripping - 2 min.); 11:44 - Alex Tuch (Hooking - 2 min.)
CBJ: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 19:28 - Peyton Krebs (Roughing - 2 min.)
CBJ: 4:45 - Brendan Gaunce (High sticking - 2 min.); 19:28 - Vladislav Gavrikov (Roughing - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Dean Kukan - CBJ
2.) Brendan Gaunce - CBJ
3.) J-F Berube - CBJ
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What's Next:
The Sabres are off from game action until Wednesday night when they head to Montreal to visit the Canadiens. Puck drop at the Bell Centre is set for 7:30 p.m. EST with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6:30 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.
