Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres could not keep pace with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night, as they put up a lackluster performance in a 6-2 loss at KeyBank Center.
Six different players scored for San Jose in the winning effort.
Neither team was able to score in the opening period, though San Jose had a pair of power play opportunities they could not convert. Alex Tuch was penalized for roughing, while Dylan Cozens took a high-sticking minor.
Buffalo was credited with five shots on goal in the first period, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 11 saves in goal for the Sabres.
Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the season just over a minute into the second period. His shot snuck past Luukkonen and barely crossed the goal line, though the goal was initially waved off by the officials on the ice.
The Sabres evened the score several minutes later thanks to their first power play opportunity of the game. JJ Peterka scored his 18th goal of the season when he converted on a one-timer thanks to a pass by Rasmus Dahlin.
The game-tying goal came with Sharks defenseman Jake Thompson in the box for a holding minor. Dahlin and Jack Quinn assisted on the goal that evened the score at 1-1.
Nico Sturm scored with less than two minutes remaining in the second period to restore San Jose's one-goal advantage. The goal was the forward's seventh of the season.
The Sabres and Sharks were each credited with 11 shots on goal in the second period. The Sharks did not have any power play chances in the period, while Buffalo had two opportunities.
William Eklund doubled San Jose's lead to 3-1 with a goal just over two minutes into the third period. He was able to sneak a shot between the goal post and Luukkonen from a bad angle for his 13th goal of the season.
Tage Thompson brought the Sabres back to within a goal thanks to his 30th goal of the season. His blast from the left faceoff circle brought Thompson's season total for goals to 30.
Peterka and Connor Clifton were credited with the assists on Thompson's goal, making it 3-2, Sharks, with just over 13 minutes remaining in regulation.
However, the Sharks answered quite quickly, just over a minute later to extend their lead back to two goals.
Rookie center Macklin Celebrini recorded his 19th goal of the season to give San Jose a 4-2 advantage. Shakir Mukhamadullin and Will Smith assisted on the goal.
Smith then led a 3-on-1 chance up the ice moments later, and scored to increase the San Jose lead to 5-2.
Tyler Tiffoli added an empty-net goal to cap the Sharks' victory, 6-2. It was the veteran's 24th goal of the year.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
SJS: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 5:12 - JJ Peterka (18) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Quinn)
SJS: 1:01 - Timothy Liljegren (6) (William Eklund, Jake Walman); 18:22 - Nico Sturm (7) (Collin Graf, Klim Kostin)
Third Period:
BUF: 13:05 - Tage Thompson (30) (JJ Peterka, Connor Clifton)
SJS: 2:19 - William Eklund (13) (Tyler Tiffoli, Shakir Mukhamadullin); 7:58 - Macklin Celebrini (19) (Shakir Mukhamadullin, Will Smith); 12:48 - Will Smith (11) (Fabian Zetterlund); 18:01 - Tyler Toffoli (24) ENG (Jake Walman, Timothy Liljegren)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Will Smith - SJS
2.) William Eklund - SJS
3.) JJ Peterka - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres have one more game before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday at 3 p.m.
The team will be in Tampa Bay on Thursday for a matchup with the Lightning at Amalie Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.