Chicago, IL (WGR 550) - At the end of the first period, you probably walked away saying "typical Sabres". At the end of the second, you were probably saying, "why can't they do that all the time?"
Buffalo had horrendous coverages, turnovers and they trailed after one, 2-0. By 6:45 of the second period, the blue and gold were ahead 3-2.
The Sabres had many chances in the first and fired 14 shots at Corey Crawford, but didn't score.
On the first Chicago goal, Buffalo had killed and penalty and three defensemen were on the ice. Marco Scandella iced the puck so on the faceoff, Zach Bogosian was on wing, He didn't pick up Duncan Keith from the point and he scored as Vladimir Sobotka got tied up with Carter Hutton.
On the second goal, Casey Mittelstadt turned the puck over inside the blue line and two quick passes sprung Artem Anisimov, who had split Bogosian and Brandon Montour.
Buffalo got it going early in the second as the Hawks were going to be called for a delayed penalty. The Sabres got all the way up ice and Sobotka wound up with a wide open net staring him in the face.
Just 1:23 after that, Montour totally fooled Crawford coming down the slot. He looked off a Sabre to his right and Crawford bit.
The Sabres were killing a penalty 2:06 later and Bogosian jumped into the rush and was sent in alone by Evan Rodrigues. Bogosian put Crawford down, went by the net and brought his stick in front and all of a sudden it went from 2-0 Chicago to 3-2 Buffalo.
The Sabres killed off three more penalties and went into the third period leading by a goal.
I think the worst part of it is yes, Chicago tied the game when Zemgus Girgensons turned the puck over and Hutton had to face Anisimov point-blank.
I liked that instead of the usual panic, the Sabres kept pressing and Rodrigues set up Kyle Okposo for a 2-on-1 tap in.
That, of course, didn't last as just 37-seconds later, Tage Thompson turned the puck over and Sobotka had Brendan Perlini in front of the net. The problem was Sobotka didn't stop, he went right by him and the wide open Perlini tied the game. When I asked Sobotka about it in the post-game show, he had no recollection of the goal.
In overtime, Hutton made seven saves and Brandon Saad hit the post. Buffalo got five on Crawford, but neither team could score.
Crawford is now 10-0-0 against Buffalo because after Jack Eichel scored in the shootout, Sam Reinhart was stopped.
Jonathan Toews, Pat Kane and Alex DeBrincat all scored for Chicago.
The Sabres may be the worst team in the National Hockey League at holding the lead. They have blown probably 10 points or more this season because they rarely hold the lead.
There is absolutely no excuse that this team is out of the playoff race and are not playing meaningful games in March.
