The Buffalo Sabres struggled to find an answer for the Detroit Red Wings over the first 40 minutes in their 4-3 shootout loss on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
It did not look like the blue and gold were skating with any great sense of urgency in the opening 20 minutes. One thing that stood out the last few games was how quickly the Sabres started. The team did outshoot Detroit 8-7 in the first period and seemed to out chance the visitors without any success.
The lone goal Buffalo did score was wiped out due to goaltender interference. Scott Wilson crashed the net after an offensive zone faceoff win, and the shot from the point found the back of the net. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the Red Wings challenged the play and it was determined that Wilson interfered with Jonathan Bernier's ability to play the shot. Instead of the game being tied 1-1, it remained 1-0 Detroit.
Dylan Larkin's second goal of the period came with just 0.2 seconds to go in the opening frame. After missing on a golden opportunity at one end, the Sabres let the forward skate through the slot and beat Jonas Johansson to make it 2-0 Red Wings heading into the break. The goal came while the teams were skating 4-on-4 to end the period.
Shots on goal through two periods were 16-16, with Detroit holding a 9-8 edge in the second period. Once again, it looked like Buffalo would have a few good shifts here or there, but just could not sustain any pressure in the offensive end.
Buffalo was able to kill off the carry over penalty to Jack Eichel at the start of the second period. His double minor for high-sticking came with just over a minute to go in the first period, seconds after Darren Helm was whistled for hooking.
The energy and effort was noticeably better to start the third period, and it is no surprise that Eichel's line is the one that gets the home team on the scoreboard. Jimmy Vesey used a nice backhand shot on a rebound in front of the net to sweep the puck under Bernier and into the goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The next shift also produced a power play, thanks to the jump that the goal gave Buffalo. While they did not score on the man advantage, you could tell they were starting to dominate the play. A Colin Miller shot from just inside the blue line was deflected by Wilson as he skated by the front of the net. This time, his re-direction counted and the Sabres tied things up at 2-2.
It was the veterans that helped lead to the comeback late in the third period. Even after the Red Wings rebuilt the lead to 3-2, the Sabres did not quit and were rewarded. Evan Rodrigues was able to find a loose puck in front of the net and tie the score at 3-3 with less than a minute to go in regulation. You can debate whether or not it should have gotten to that point, but Buffalo was able to salvage a point.
Once again, Curtis Lazar won a faceoff to start the 3-on-3 overtime and helped Eichel try to win the game like he did against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This time, however, the team would record two shots and Bernier was able to get his team to the shootout. Even though Jonas Johansson allowed goals to both of the shooters he faced in the shootout, I liked his game overall and his ability to not let two goals in the first period rattle him.
Buffalo has no time to sulk about the shootout loss as they are right back on the ice on Friday against the New York Rangers. The puck drops just after 7 p.m. on WGR with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog getting underway at 6 p.m.
