Los Angeles, Calif. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres saw their shutout streak during their West Coast road trip come to an end on Saturday, but then ripped off four-straight goals to beat the Los Angeles Kings, 4-1, at Crypto.com Arena.
On an early power play opportunity for the Kings, it was forward Artemi Panarin netting the first goal against a Sabres goaltender since last week Saturday night. It was a stretch of time that nearly spanned three games, covering the tail end of last Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Sabres tied things up about four minutes into the middle stanza, though. Their pressure carried over from the end of the first period, and Tage Thompson was finally able to get Buffalo on the scoreboard.
Thompson showcased great patience, and was able to tuck the puck around the right leg of goalie Anton Forsberg and to the right post in tight for his 36th goal of the season.
With 8:48 left in regulation, the Sabres took their first lead of the afternoon.
Zach Benson took a hit to make a play, and got the puck to Sam Carrick, who roofed the go-ahead goal on a backhand.
Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith opted to call his timeout, and then utilize the extra time to get an extended look at, what he believed to be, an uncalled high-stick. Smith pulled the trigger on his coach's challenge, but the play ended up standing as called, resulting in a Kings penalty and a Sabres power play.
On the ensuing man advantage opportunity, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin made it a 3-1 edge. His 15th goal of the 2025-26 campaign was batted into the Kings net by a Los Angeles defender in front.
Then with two-and-a-half minutes left to play, Benson sealed the deal with an empty-net tally, his eighth goal of the year.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
LAK: 10:48 - Artemi Panarin (24) PPG (Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar)
Second Period:
BUF: 4:05 - Tage Thompson (36) (Peyton Krebs, Mattias Samuelsson)
LAK: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 11:12 - Sam Carrick (9) (Zach Benson, Zach Metsa); 12:11 - Rasmus Dahlin (15) PPG (Josh Norris, Tage Thompson); 17:35 - Zach Benson (8) ENG (Josh Norris, Beck Malenstyn)
LAK: NONE
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BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Sam Carrick - BUF
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The road trip culminates Sunday night against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Faceoff is set for 8 p.m. with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.
Buffalo allowed its first goal-against in a week, then dialed up the offense in a 4-1 win in Los Angeles
