Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks is the exact type of game we've been talking about for a few years with the Buffalo Sabres. It’s finding a way to get a game to overtime so you can secure one point, and play for one more.
It took until 18:32 of the second period for the Canucks to break through on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make the game 1-1.
The Sabres' game had been slipping since Danton Heinen came in alone shorthanded and hit the crossbar. Buffalo had stopped getting bodies and pucks to the net, and Vancouver was starting to pressure them into mistakes.
In the third period, Dylan Cozens took a holding penalty, which was a good call, but he lost his head and took a second penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Vancouver a four-minute power play in a 1-1 game.
Conor Garland scored the power play goal, and the Sabres were behind for the first time.
Tage Thompson ripped into a one-timer from the point that Garland went down and blocked. It hit him so hard, the puck caromed off to center ice, allowing Pius Suter to go in on Luukkonen and score on a breakaway.
After what Cozens did, I was stunned he got back on the ice again.
"We discussed it on the bench. He knows how I feel, he knows he can't do it. I said the only way you can make amends is to get one back," said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff following the loss.
Cozens was very angry at himself after the game for losing his head like that.
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Cozens looked like a man possessed after that, though.
With Zach Benson in the crease and others all around it, Cozens found the net from the right circle to make it 3-2 with 6:42 left in regulation.
Just 1:39 later, Benson was out on the left wing wall near the point and saw Cozens and Alex Tuch around the net. He thought the best thing to do is get the puck there, and let it rattle around a bit. The strategy worked, as the puck hit Cozens and Tuch before getting by Kevin Lankinen to tie the game, 3-3.
Buffalo was able to get the game to overtime to secure, at least, one point. The Sabres also heard from Ruff about getting more bodies and pucks to the net, and they listened, outshooting the Canucks 18-6 in the final frame.
Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes took the game over in overtime for Vancouver.
He used his speed and agility to keep the puck away from the Sabres almost the whole time. There’s a reason why if they did the 2018 NHL Draft over again right now, Hughes would easily be the No. 1 overall pick, with Brady Tkachuk second overall and Rasmus Dahlin third.
Hughes made a play into the crease as his pass hit JJ Peterka in front, and went to Garland, who was alone on one knee for his third point of the game and the overtime winner.
Right before that play, Thompson had a glorious opportunity to win it for Buffalo, as Peterka made a gorgeous pass to him all alone in the slot. He put a move on Lankinen and looked like he was going to score, but he didn’t get the puck up high enough on the backhand deke and was robbed by the Vancouver goalie.
With Sam Lafferty leaving the game with an injury, Buffalo called up 2021 seventh-round pick Tyson Kozak from the Rochester Americans.
The 21-year-old has shown in 110 games with the Amerks that he will do anything to try to win a hockey game. In 14 games this season, Kozak has five goals and six points.
If he plays Saturday against the New York Islanders, it’ll be his first NHL game.