Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres scored five unanswered goals on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night at KeyBank Center.
Jeff Skinner was able to create a scoring chance less than two minutes into the game, and it gave Buffalo an early lead. The Sabres forward scored his 20th goal of the season on the turnover opportunity, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo was credited with nine shots on goal against Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson in the first period, though neither team was credited with a power play. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all 10 Vegas shots on goal in the first period.
Dylan Cozens was able to win a race to a loose puck while shorthanded, and beat Thompson with a breakaway chance to double Buffalo's lead to 2-0 less than a minute into the second period. The special teams goal came while Alex Tuch was in the penalty box for high-sticking.
The Golden Knights answered right back moments later on the power play, though, to halve their deficit to 2-1. Brendan Brisson was able to slide to the far side of the net and receive a one-time pass from Nicolas Roy for his second goal of the season.
William Karlsson evened the score at 2-2 minutes later with a one-timer from the slot that was able to beat Luukkonen, as he went from side-to-side. Jonathan Marchessault made the pass that helped create the goal.
Another offensive zone turnover created a goal for the Sabres, this time in the late stages of the second period.
Eric Robinson was able to pick off the puck along the boards and fed Zemgus Girgensons alone in the slot. Girgensons' seventh goal of the year gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead.
Just over two minutes into the third period, Kyle Okposo was able to chip a rebound chance off of Thompson to help the Sabres re-gain their two-goal lead, 4-2.
Skinner took the initial shot on goal that created the rebound opportunity for the captain to convert.
Several minutes later, Owen Power took a shot from the blue line that found its way through and into the net to increase Buffalo's lead to 5-2. Peyton Krebs provided a screen in front of the net that helped contribute to the goal.
The Sabres were able to convert on their first power play chance of the game with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation.
Casey Mittelstadt was able to score the goal to increase the lead to 6-2 late in the third period. His 14th goal of the season came with Alec Martinez in the penalty box for tripping.
Cozens was able to score his second shorthanded goal of the game to balloon Buffalo's lead to 7-2 with under three minutes remaining in the game. The young forward was able to bank a shot off of Thompson with JJ Peterka serving a penalty for Krebs.
Luukkonen made 22 saves for the victory, stopping all eight shots faced in the third period.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 1:55 - Jeff Skinner (20) (Unassisted)
VGK: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 0:54 - Dylan Cozens (13) SHG (Unassisted), 14:46 - Zemgus Girgensons (7) (Eric Robinson)
VGK: 1:46 - Brendan Brisson (2) PPG (Nicolas Roy, Paul Cotter); 4:28 - William Karlsson (21) (Jonathan Marchessault, Paul Cotter)
Third Period:
BUF: 2:20 - Kyle Okposo (12) (Jeff Skinner, Casey Mittelstadt); 6:26 - Owen Power (4) (Jacob Bryson, Eric Robinson); 12:12 - Casey Mittelstadt (14) PPG (Owen Power, Jeff Skinner); 17:12 - Dylan Cozens (14) SHG (Owen Power, Henri Jokiharju)
VGK: NONE
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Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
2.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will remain home for another game against a Western Conference opponent on Sunday. Buffalo and the Winnipeg Jets will drop the puck at 7 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. EST with Brian Koziol.