Second period struggles result in Sabres loss to Vegas

Buffalo, Ny. (WGR) - A pair of second period goals against helped spell a 4-1 defeat for the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon at KeyBank Center against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Neither team was able to score in the opening period, despite scoring chances at both ends of the ice. Buffalo took the only two penalties of the period but were able to kill off both of those chances. Vegas was credited with just six shots in the opening period with Colten Ellis stopping all six shots.

The Sabres recorded 15 shots on goal in the first period, with several coming on the penalty kill. Zach Benson had three of the team's 15 shots in the period, including a pair on the penalty kill.

Vegas scored a pair of goals in less than two minutes in the middle stages of the second period, allowing the team to open up a 2-0 lead over the Sabres. Mitch Marner scored the first goal of the game short-handed for a one-goal advantage. Marner was able to create a turnover in the neutral zone and scored on his second chance for his third goal of the season. Just over a minute later Jack Eichel scored against his former team to extend the advantage to two goals for the Golden Knights.

The Sabres were able to cut the deficit in half less than five minutes into the third period with Beck Malenstyn's first goal of the year. His goal came after Adin Hill could not freeze the puck in his crease, and it somehow squirted across the goal line.

Tyson Kozak was credited with the only assist on the goal that cut the Vegas lead to 2-1 early in the third.

However, Tomas Hertl has the answer for the Golden Knights less over a minute later. He received a pass from Marner and was able to stick handle his way to the front of the net for his eighth goal of the year. That made the score 3-1 in favor of Vegas. He scored his second of the game thanks to an odd-man rush in the offensive zone. It resulted in his ninth goal of the season and 4-1 Sabres deficit.

Despite the loss, several Sabres' players celebrated career games played milestones. That included Rasmus dahlin.

Josh Norris also played in his 300th career NHL game, while Conor Timmins skated in his 200th NHL game as well.

Goal Summary

First Period
BUF: NONE
VGK: NONE

Second Period
BUF: NONE
VGK: 12:17 - Mitch Marner (3) SHG (unassisted). 13:43 - Jack Eichel (8) (Ivan Barbashev)

Third Period
BUF: 4:26 - Beck Malenstyn (1) (Tyson Kozak)
VGK: 5:43 - Tomas Hertl (8) (Mitch Marner). 9:58 - Tomas Hertl (9) (Ivan Barbashev, Shea Theodore)

Stats of the Game

Three Stars of the Game
1. Tomas Hertl -VGK
2. Mitch Marner -VGK
3. Adin Hill -VGK

What's Next
The Sabres remain home for their final game of a four-game homestand, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network -WGR. Pregame coverage with Zach Jones and Derek Kramer begins at 6:00 p.m. The only place to hear Dan and Rob will be on the Sabres Radio Network.