Detroit, Mich. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres started the season series against the Detroit Red Wings with a 5-3 win. After losing to the Wings, 2-1 back on Nov. 2, Game 3 of the season series became one of those losses fans would want to forget.
With the game tied at 3-3, Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker scored second-period goals to give the Sabres a 5-3 lead. Buffalo still held that lead midway through the third period, but James Reimer was having his worst game of the season, and the Red Wings had the game tied again by the 15:42 mark.
The Sabres wound up losing thanks to Dylan Larkin’s goal in the shootout.
It was just another of many multiple goal leads blown by the Sabres for losses this season.
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In the three games against Buffalo this season, Larkin has two goals and two assists for four points, while Lucas Raymond has two goals and three assists for five points.
Detroit has also used four different goaltenders in the three games.
Buffalo just broke a six-game winless streak on Monday with a good 60-minute effort against the Edmonton Oilers.
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The Sabres come into Detroit with seven-straight losses on the road, going 0-6-1 in that span.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is coming off his best game since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but overall, he has, once again, left question marks if he’s a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. He's 21-20-4 this season with a 3.11 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage.
The Sabres have fallen to 30th in the NHL with a goals-against average of 3.48.
Thompson has been red-hot lately, and is second in the NHL with 28 even strength goals. That’s only three behind Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl. His 33 goals overall is fourth in the league.
Since Jan. 20, Thompson leads the league with 14 goals. He has 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in his last 28 games.
Alex Tuch has nine goals over his last 11 games played.
There was no morning skate on Wednesday, so no word on if JJ Peterka is playing. He missed practice on Tuesday with a lower-body injury.
The Sabres' 22nd-ranked penalty kill is a big reason why the Sabres need to stay out of the penalty box. Detroit’s power play is third overall.
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Before blowing that 6-5 game to the Wings, Detroit had lost five-straight games. They’re probably happy to see the Sabres, because many teams have played the Sabres with lengthy losing streaks and broken them with a win.
The Red Wings are currently on a six-game skid.
This recent losing streak has dropped Detroit out of a playoff position, now four points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot.
Cam Talbot has been doing most of their goaltending lately. He’s 17-15-3 this season with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
Raymond is Detroit’s leading scorer with 22 goals and 44 assists for 66 points.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" at 6:30 p.m. for pregame coverage on WGR, where you’ll hear from Ruff, Rasmus Dahlin and Ryan McLeod. The only place to catch Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call of the game is WGR.