Detroit, Michigan (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - What a way to earn your first road win. Despite falling behind 4-1 halfway through the game, the Buffalo Sabres flipped the script on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night.
The opening 20-minutes saw two goals scored, each by one team. They were separated by just 29-seconds.
Detroit struck first 10:23 into the affair. A re-direct in front of Colten Ellis came courtesy of forward Patrick Kane; his third goal of the season for the Red Wings.
Less than 30-seconds later, Alex Tuch was on the spot. With goalie John Gibson on the ground and defenseman Moritz Seider in the crease trying to offer relief, Tuch slapped home the tying goal to make it 1-1 in Detroit.
The second period was all Red Wings. The home team jumped out to a commanding 4-1 lead before there were nine-minutes gone in the frame. Forward Alex DeBrincat netted two goals, while sandwiched between was a shot from captain Dylan Larkin while the two sides played 4-on-4 hockey.
Before period's end, though, the Sabres were able to keep it competitive. Rasmus Dahlin's point shot was deflected on its way to the net by Josh Doan. Doan's fifth goal of 2025-26 shrunk the deficit to two ahead of intermission number two.
The Sabres kept chipping away at the Red Wings' lead, and crept within a goal just 4:25 into the third. Tage Thompson went coast-to-coast, and added a highlight reel-worthy goal to his résumé that made it 4-3 Detroit.
Also of note on the play was goalie Colten Ellis, who registered his first assist in the NHL.
Five-minutes after Thompson, it was Ryan McLeod's turn to make an impact. On the penalty kill, McLeod stripped Seider of the puck at the blue line, and went streaking the other way to tie the game short-handed.
The Sabres had officially climbed all the way back from 4-1 down, and turned it into a 10-minute sprint to the finish in regulation.
Turns out, it took 10-minutes plus one more to determine a winner on this night. 63-seconds into overtime, Mattias Samuelsson not only completed the three-goal comeback, but helped Buffalo post its first road victory in nine tries this season.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: 10:52 - Alex Tuch (7) (Unassisted)
DET: 10:23 - Patrick Kane (3) (Ben Chiarot)
Second Period:
BUF: 17:58 - Josh Doan (5) (Rasmus Dahlin)
DET: 3:52 - Alex DeBrincat (7) (Lucas Raymond); 5:56 - Dylan Larkin (11) (Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider); 8:50 - Alex DeBrincat (8) PPG (Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider)
Third Period:
BUF: 4:25 - Tage Thompson (8) (Josh Doan, Colten Ellis); 9:28 - Ryan McLeod (4) SHG (Unassisted)
DET: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: 1:03 - Mattias Samuelsson (3) OT-GWG (Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin)
DET: NONE
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1. Tage Thompson - BUF
2. Lucas Raymond - DET
3. Josh Doan - BUF
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What's Next:
The blue and gold host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night, November 17. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.