(WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres had a very good first period defensively on Saturday in Minnesota, limiting the Wild to almost nothing.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen only faced six shots in the opening 20 minutes, with the best chance coming right away when Bo Byram allowed former Sabres forward Vinnie Hinostroza to cut in. Luukkonen held strong and made the save.
The Sabres had some good chances on Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, but couldn’t score.
On the power play, Ryan McLoud found himself in front with Gustavsson down and out, but shot wide of the net. On the same man advantage, Alex Tuch was open and looked like he had a lot of net, but Gustavsson came across to rob him with a skate save.
Later in the period, Tage Thompson came down the slot open, but Gustavsson foiled him on his deke.
The Wild goaltender stopped Jordan Greenway off a 2-on-1 that was started by Tuch, who forced a turnover. Then McLeod made a great move in front of the Minnesota net, but Gustavsson was there once again.
Buffalo easily could’ve been up 3-0, but left the first period still deadlocked at 0-0.
It’s not the first time I’ve written this: The Sabres didn’t carry their good play into the second period, and they fell apart at the seams. Despite Buffalo playing well for 50 minutes, they put up an abominable 10 minutes of hockey and lost.
It started 56 seconds into the second period when Hinostroza easily won a race and battle for the puck in the corner from Owen Power, and Byram and McLoud were totally unaware that Marco Rossi was alone in front of the net.
Rossi, who the Sabres could’ve drafted instead of Jack Quinn in 2020, scored his 22nd goal of the season. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff sat out of Saturday’s game because he missed the morning meeting.
Less than five minutes later, Luukkonen couldn’t control a rebound from a Brendan Gaunce shot with the puck bouncing around the crease. Jacob Bryson fanned on his clearing attempt, and the puck went in off of Justin Brazeau’s leg.
A little over three minutes after that goal, Bryson stepped up on Matt Boldy, who, by far, was the star of this game, and led an outnumbered situation that the Sabres made worse by backing in on top of Luukkonen instead of forcing Boldy. He makes a great play to Mats Zuccarello and it’s 3-0, Wild.
Boldy is another guy the Sabres could’ve drafted back in 2019 instead of Dylan Cozens. Many were surprised when Buffalo didn’t take him with the seventh overall pick and he fell to the Wild at the 12th overall selection.
The 24-year-old has seasons of 31 goals, 29 goals and 69 points. In 70 games this season, Boldy has 23 goals and 60 points.
Minnesota is undefeated when leading after two periods, and have only allowed two goals in three games. There was no way the Sabres were climbing out of a three-goal hole.
JJ Peterka did score in the third off a 4-on-4 situation, as both Power and Rasmus Dahlin led a rush to find Peterka coming down the middle.
Freddie Gaudreau’s empty net goal was the NHL-leading 24th empty-netter against Buffalo this season. Interestingly, Buffalo is second in the league scoring 10 empty net goals.
With Sam Lafferty leaving the game with a groin injury, Buffalo had to finish the game with 10 forwards.
Jacob Bernard-Docker played his first game with the Sabres on Saturday, and his first game since Dec. 28. He accounted for himself well, playing 20 shifts on defense for 11:29 of ice-time.
In this game, the Sabres hurt themselves by not hitting the net. They registered 56 shot attempts, but only accounted for 21 shots on goal.
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Buffalo has no time to rest, as they’re in Winnipeg on Sunday to face the Jets. Winnipeg last played on Thursday in Edmonton, where they beat the Oilers, 4-3 in overtime.
Winnipeg is second in the NHL with a .714 points percentage, and has won six of their last eight.
The Jets are 25-5-4 at home this season.
Back on Dec. 5 in Buffalo, Winnipeg beat the Sabres in overtime, 3-2.
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