Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - On a special night for longtime Sabres winger, broadcaster and team ambassador Rob Ray, Buffalo was able to give the newest member of the Sabres Hall of Fame even more of a reason to celebrate.
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Thanks to a pair of goals from rookie forward Jiri Kulich, including the game-winning tally with 2:04 remaining in regulation, the Sabres were able to earn a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres wasted little time getting on the score sheet and opening up a 1-0 lead. Jack Quinn took a shot from the point that was re-directed by Rasmus Dahlin in front of the Predators net, only to be then tapped in over the goal line by Ryan McLeod. McLeod's 11th goal of the season came less than three minutes into the game.
Later in the opening period, Kulich used a wrist shot from the right wing into the top corner of the net for his 10th goal of the season. Kulich was able to take advantage of a bad change by Nashville, and was able to get off to the races thanks to an excellent lead pass by Dahlin.
Owen Power was credited with the secondary assist at the 8:41 mark of the first period.
However, just over two minutes later, Nashville answered to trim their deficit to 2-1. Luke Evangelista was able to tip a Justin Barron shot into the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Former Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly was also credited with an assist on the goal.
The Predators were able to tie the game at 2-2 with a fortuitous bounce that found the net just before the end of the opening frame. Defenseman Brady Skjei let go of a shot that went off the stick of Sabres winger Alex Tuch, fluttered up in the air and then over goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and into the net.
Buffalo fell behind by a goal early in the second period, thanks to a Skjei shot that was deflected by traffic in front of the net. Tommy Novak was credited with his ninth goal of the season, tipping the shot past Luukkonen for a 3-2 Predators lead.
However, Jason Zucker and Tuch combined on a give-and-go that allowed the Sabres to tie the game at 3-3 just past the halfway point of the middle frame. Zucker entered the zone with the puck, and was on the receiving end of a pass from Tuch that beat goalie Justus Annunen.
The goal was Zucker's 17th of the year, and Tuch was also able to register his 20th assist on the season.
The game remained tied heading into the waning moments of the third period until Kulich was able to put the Sabres ahead for good.
The Sabres' top line entered the Predators zone on a 3-on-2 rush, with Thompson finding Kulich with a nice pass on the tape in open space. The rookie then fired a shot past Annunen to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead with about two minutes left on the clock.
JJ Peterka was credited with the secondary assist on the go-ahead goal.
Despite facing some pressure in their own end as the Predators entered desperation mode, the Sabres managed to hold on for the victory, the second in their four-game homestand at KeyBank Center.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:25 - Ryan McLeod (11) (Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Quinn); 8:41 - Jiri Kulich (10) (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power)
NSH: 10:56 - Luke Evangelista (5) (Justin Barron, Ryan O'Reilly); 17:06 - Brady Skjei (5) (Colton Sissons, Michel McCarron)
Second Period:
BUF: 12:26 - Jason Zucker (17) (Alex Tuch)
NSH: 2:51 - Tommy Novak (9) (Brady Skjei, Fedor Svechkov)
Third Period:
BUF: 17:56 - Jiri Kulich (11) (Tage Thompson, JJ Peterka)
NSH: NONE
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jiri Kulich - BUF
2.) Rasmus Dahlin - BUF
3.) Jason Zucker - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will remain home for the third game of their four-game homestand, welcoming the New Jersey Devils to Downtown Buffalo for a Sunday matinee. Faceoff on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - is slated for 1 p.m. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol will begin at 12 p.m.