Buffalo, Ny. (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres won in their home opener on Saturday night and have a chance for their second straight victory. Buffalo is hosting the Minnesota Wild for their lone visit to KeyBank Center this regular season.
Neither team was able to score in the opening period, despite each team having at least one power play chance. Buffalo could not convert on their lone power play chance in the first. Minnesota had a pair of power play chances and were 0-for-2 on special teams.
Both teams were credited with four shots in the opening period. Colten Ellis stopped all four Wild shots on goal in the period.
The first goal of the game came late in the second period when Minnesota capitalized on their fourth power play chance of the night. Danila Yurov's one-time shot was deflected off of Mattias Samuelsson's stick and went into the net for a 1-0 Wild lead. The goal was scored with Peyton Krebs in the penalty box for interference.
Minnesota doubled the lead less than two minutes later after creating a transition rush from the defensive zone. Quinn Hughes was able to move the puck into the offensive end and when he lost the puck he was able to slide it to Maxim Shabanov for his first goal of the season. Hughes and Michael McCarron assisted on the goal that extended the Wild lead to 2-0.
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: NONE
MIN: NONE
Second Period
BUF: NONE
MIN: 13:53 - Danila Yurov (1) PPG (Jared Spurgeon, Blake Coleman). 15:38 - Maxim Shabanov (1) (Quinn Hughes, Michael McCarron)
