Buffalo. N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres failed to maintain another third period lead, this time seeing a 5-3 advantage erased by the Detroit Red Wings. Despite getting the game to overtime and eventually a shootout, the Sabres ended up falling, 6-5, to the Red Wings on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres wasted little time getting on the score sheet and taking a 1-0 lead in the opening period. Zach Benson was able to use a shot from the right wing to beat Ville Husso for his fourth goal of the year.
Dylan Cozens and Peyton Krebs were credited with assists on Benson's goal that came less than two minutes into the game.
However, Detroit had a quick answer, scoring twice in less than a minute to erase the one-goal deficit in favor of a one-goal lead.
Alex DeBrincat's 12th goal of the season tied the game at 1-1 after he wins a puck battle along the boards, takes it straight to the net, and lifted a puck over the extended leg of Sabres goalie James Reimer.
Just 41 seconds later, Andrew Copp was able to establish position outside of the Sabres' crease and tap in his sixth goal of the season for a 2-1 Detroit advantage.
Jason Zucker led a rush into the Red Wings zone that resulted in a scoring chance for Tage Thompson, evening the score at 2-2. Thompson was able to score his 15th goal of the season, despite a Detroit defenseman trying to disrupt the play.
Zucker then notched his second point of the game minutes later, adding a goal that allowed Buffalo to enjoy a 3-2 advantage late in the first period.
The Sabres were outshot by Detroit, 9-7, in the first period, despite holding a one-goal lead through the period.
Each team scored early in the second period, despite a goaltender change for the Red Wings. Out came Husso, and entered rookie Sebastian Cossa, making his NHL debut.
Lucas Raymond was able to record his 11th goal of the year just over a minute into the second period to tie the game, 3-3. Raymond was able find space behind the Buffalo defense, and wired a quick shot over the glove hand of Reimer.
However, just over a minute later, Nicolas Aube-Kubel was able to shovel a rebound chance past Cossa for his first goal as a member of the Sabres. He deposited a rebound chance to the left of the Red Wings net, allowing Buffalo to enjoy a 4-3 lead just over two minutes into the second period.
The Sabres expanded their lead to two, 5-3, thanks to Zucker's second goal of the game midway through the second period. Zucker was able to use his speed to power past the Red Wings defenders, and then tuck a puck past the extended leg of Cossa.
Ryan McLeod made the pass that allowed Zucker to skate in for the scoring chance. McLeod was credited with the lone assist on the goal, his second of the game.
Copp was able to score his second goal of the game midway through the third period to bring Detroit back within one, 5-4. The forward was able to gain position at the front of the net, and sweep the puck through Reimer.
The Red Wings tied the game, 5-5, with just over four minutes remaining in regulation thanks to Moritz Seider's third goal of the season. Raymond picked up his third point of the night with the lone assist on the game-tying goal.
The game went to overtime, where McLeod had the best chance to score for Buffalo. The forward created a turnover for a partial breakaway, but his backhand hit the goal post.
After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout, where the Red Wings completed the comeback to steal the extra point from Buffalo. Raymond and Dylan Larkin each scored for the Red Wings in the shootout, while Alex Tuch was the only one to score for the Sabres.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 1:38 - Zach Benson (4) (Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs); 10:25 - Tage Thompson (15) (Jason Zucker); 15:26 - Jason Zucker (6) (Peyton Krebs, Ryan McLeod)
DET: 4:05 - Alex DeBrincat (12) (Dylan Larkin); 4:46 - Andrew Copp (6) (J.T. Compher, Moritz Seider)
Second Period:
BUF: 2:26 - Nicolas Aube-Kubel (1) (Beck Malenstyn, Owen Power); 9:46 - Jason Zucker (7) (Ryan McLeod)
DET: 1:05 - Lucas Raymond (11) (Dylan Larkin, Erik Gustafsson)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
DET: 10:27 - Andrew Copp (7) (Ben Chiarot); 15:42 - Moritz Seider (3) (Lucas Raymond)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
DET: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Tage Thompson - Save
DET: Lucas Raymond - GOAL
BUF: JJ Peterka - Save
DET: Patrick Kane - Save
BUF: Alex Tuch - GOAL
DET: Dylan Larkin - GOAL
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jason Zucker - BUF
2.) Moritz Seider - DET
3.) Dylan Larkin - DET
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What's next:
The Sabres have one more game on their five-game homestand, hosting the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST from KeyBank Center, and the only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray is the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. The Steve Foley Law Pregame Show starts our coverage at 6 p.m. EST.