Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Jeff Skinner scored a pair of goals in the third period to help lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
Casey Mittelstadt was able to score his second goal of the season thanks to a power play chance in the opening period. The forward was at the side of the net when Rasmus Dahlin's shot from the point was blocked, but ended up on his stick. The goal that made it 1-0 Buffalo came with Marcus Foligno in the penalty box for goaltender interference.
Buffalo finished the opening 20 minutes with 11 shots on goal.
Minnesota recorded 15 shots to open the game, and tied the score 1-1 later in the period on Ryan Hartman's 22nd goal of the year. His shot from the slot beat Craig Anderson with under five minutes remaining in the period.
Kyle Okposo added a power play goal early in the second period to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead. The forward recorded his 15th goal of the season on a rebound attempt. It was his second point of the game, while Mittelstadt and Dahlin assisted on the goal for a multi-point game, as well.
Kevin Fiala tied the game 2-2 just over three minutes into the third period with a shot that got through several players into the net. The goal was his 18th of the season.
Kirill Kaprizov scored a power play for the Wild to give the team a 3-2 lead less than two minutes later. The forward's 25th goal of the year was assisted by Jared Spurgeon and Matt Boldy.
A third opportunity from Skinner in the offensive zone resulted in a goal to tie the game 3-3 midway through the third. It was his 22nd goal of the season and was assisted by Tage Thompson to bring the Sabres back from down a goal.
Just over four minutes later, Skinner scored his 23rd goal of the season and second of the third period to help the Sabres to a 4-3 lead late in regulation. Again, the forward's first attempt was stopped but he followed it up by beating goalie Kaapo Kahkonen for the unassisted goal.
Victor Olofsson scored an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining in the game to help Buffalo balloon the lead to 5-3. However, Kaprizov scored moments later for the Wild with the goaltender pulled to make it a one-goal game, 5-4.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 8:51 - Casey Mittelstadt (2) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Kyle Okposo)
MIN: 15:25 - Ryan Hartman (22) (Kirill Kaprizov, Jared Spurgeon)
Second Period:
BUF: 6:01 - Kyle Okposo (15) PPG (Casey Mittelstadt, Rasmus Dahlin)
MIN: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 12:20 - Jeff Skinner (22) (Tage Thompson); 16:40 - Jeff Skinner (23) (Unassisted); 18:54 - Victor Olofsson (9) ENG (Peyton Krebs)
MIN: 3:20 - Kevin Fiala (18) (Frederick Gaudreau, Alex Goligoski); 4:59 - Kirill Kaprizov (25) PPG (Jared Spurgeon, Matt Boldy); 19:26 - Kirill Kaprizov (26) (Kevin Fiala, Jonas Brodin)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
MIN: 7:15 - Marcus Foligno (Goaltender interference - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 16:52 - Cody Eakin (Hooking - 2 min.)
MIN: 4:32 - Jonas Brodin (Hooking - 2 min.); 19:09 - Barndon Duhaime (Roughing - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 3:51 - Robert Hagg (Holding - 2 min.); 8:46 - Casey Fitzgerald (Fighting - 5 min.)
MIN: 8:46 - Mason Shaw (Fighting - 5 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
2.) Casey Mittelstadt - BUF
3.) Rasmus Dahlin
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What's next:
The Sabres continue their homestand on Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 1 p.m. EST with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 12 p.m. EST with Brian Koziol and Paul Hamilton.
