Saint Paul, Minnesota (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It was a good "short-term memory" type-game for the Buffalo Sabres, who played comeback at Grand Casino Arena against the white-hot Minnesota Wild.
The Wild opened the scoring 9:37 into the evening. Two pieces of the top-line for Minnesota did the damage, as veteran forward Mats Zuccarello passed west-to-east and found Kirill Kaprizov for an off-wing one timer.
Just over three-minutes later, Beck Malenstyn netted his third goal of the campaign, forming almost a human wall with Josh Dunne as the two crashed the crease on the shot from Peyton Krebs.
The Wild formulated a quick response, and snatched the lead back just over a minute later. A ghastly turnover from Alex Tuch in his own end ended up on the forechecking-stick of Matt Boldy; the other part of the three-headed top line for Minnesota. Boldy's 15th of the season snuck far-side by Colten Ellis.
In the waning minutes of the second period, Zach Benson had a nice look with Peyton Krebs out in front, but goalie Filip Gustafsson flashed the right pad to shoo away what could have been the game-tying goal for Buffalo.
The middle stanza also featured some special teams play for both sides, but both teams stood pat.
In the third, the Sabres found the equalizer. A fortuitous bounce off the shot from Josh Doan was put in to the net with the hand of a driving-by Mats Zuccarello.
That was the last goal of its kind until a shootout. Buffalo and Minnesota traded great chances in the final moment of regulation, as well as some nifty hands in the shootout.
In said shootout it was Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn and Noah Ostlund scoring in four-rounds to best Boldy and Kaprizov for the Wild.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: 12:42 - Beck Malenstyn (3) (Peyton Krebs, Josh Dunne)
MIN: 9:37 - Kirill Kaprizov (17) (Mats Zuccarello, Danila Yurov); 14:05 - Matt Boldy (15) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
MIN: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 6:01 - Josh Doan (8) (Alex Tuch, Noah Ostlund)
MIN: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
MIN: NONE
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1. Rasmus Dahlin - BUF
2. Noah Ostlund - BUF
3. Kirill Kaprizov - MIN
What's Next:
The blue and gold come back home to host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night, December 1. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7:30 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the radio call.