Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Calgary Flames scored four goals in the third period to upend the Buffalo Sabres, 6-2, on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. The two teams entered the period tied at 2-2 before the offensive outburst by Calgary.
Calgary was able to kill of an early penalty and scored just over a minute later at even strength to open up a 1-0 lead over the Sabres.
Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson came down from the blue line and was able to collect a rebound chance to score his fifth goal of the season. Yegor Sharangovich and Kevin Bahl assisted on the game's first goal.
The Flames were able to double their lead to 2-0 midway through the first period. Joel Farabee was able to get to the front of the net and receive a pass from Nazem Kadri from below the goal line. Sharangovich made the initial pass that helped create the chance.
The Sabres thought they had cut the deficit to 2-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the opening period on a Rasmus Dahlin shot. However, Calgary challenged for goaltender interference and successfully got the goal taken off the board.
The referees determined that forward Tage Thompson interfered with Flames goalie Devin Cooley, and the score remained 2-0.
Buffalo was outshot by the Flames, 11-5, in the first period. Each team failed to score on the power play, with both teams having one chance on the man advantage in the first.
The Sabres defense got in on the scoring in the second period. This time, with the goal standing to allow the team to cut their deficit in half.
Sabres winger Beck Malenstyn helped create a turnover in the offensive zone to allow Mattias Samuelsson to score his fourth goal of the season.
Samuelsson's goal gave the defenseman a three-game point streak, and allowed the Sabres to pull within a goal, 2-1.
Thompson was able to get the game-tying goal late in the second period after a pass by Samuelsson back to the blue line that made the score 2-2. The goal was Thompson's 10th of the season.
Samuelsson's second point of the night came on the primary assist to the goal. Dahlin was credited with the secondary assist.
The Flames were able to score just over two minutes into the third period to re-establish their lead, and then proceeded to pour it on the Sabres.
Morgan Frost scored his fourth goal of the season after gaining position by the crease and receiving a Jonathan Huberdeau pass. Huberdeau and Matt Coronato were credited with assists on the go-ahead goal for Calgary.
The visitors scored two more goals within about two minutes of each other to extend the lead out to 5-2. Mikael Backlund's fourth goal of the year made it a two-goal advantage for the Flames, while Farabee's second goal of the night ballooned the lead to three with about 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
Calgary capped the scoring thanks to a fortunate bounce off of the glass behind the net. A shot by Coronato deflected high off the glass behind Colten Ellis, landed in the crease and hit the goaltender's leg on its way into the net.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
CGY: 5:58 - Rasmus Andersson (5) (Yegor Sharangvich, Kevin Bahl); 12:04 - Joel Farabee (3) (Nazem Kadri, Yegor Sharangvich)
Second Period:
BUF: 10:21 - Mattias Samuelsson (4) (Unassisted); 15:57 - Tage Thompson (10) (Mattias Samuelsson, Rasmus Dahlin)
CGY: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CGY: 2:02 - Morgan Frost (4) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Matt Coronato); 7:34 - Mikael Backlund (4) (Rasmus Andersson); 9:50 - Joel Farabee (4) (Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri); 17:49 - Matt Coronato (7) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Morgan Frost)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Joel Farabee - CGY
2.) Rasmus Andersson - CGY
3.) Mattias Samuelsson - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres continue their four-game homestand on Friday with a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - begins at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog. The puck will drop just after 7 p.m.