Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres were able to pick up two more points in the standings with a 5-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night at KeyBank Center. Buffalo has now picked up five of the last six available points with the victory.
The Sabres were able to jump on the scoreboard first with a loose puck at the front of the net that was able to be chipped in.
Eric Robinson took the initial shot that was stopped by Karel Vejmelka, but the puck was loose in the crease for Kyle Okposo, who followed up the play and scored to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo was credited with 14 shots on goal in the opening period, scoring the only goal of the frame. Devon Levi was able to turn away all five of Arizona's shots. That included a pair of power play chances.
Zach Benson and Casey Mittelstadt were each called for minor penalties, but neither resulted in a special teams goal.
Arizona was able to record the equalizer just over three minutes into the second period. Michael Kesserling was able to slide his shot along the ice and beat Levi to even the score at 1-1 early in the frame. It was also Kesserling's first NHL goal.
However, Robinson was able to un-tie the game with his first goal with the Sabres that counted. His tally came just minutes after the Coyotes' score to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Okposo and Connor Clifton recorded assists for their second points of the night, along with Robinson.
Okposo and Robinson helped combine for the third Sabres goal of the night, setting up Peyton Krebs for his second goal of the year. Okposo made the pass from below the goal line to Krebs, who was able to use a one-timer from the left side faceoff dot for the score.
JJ Peterka's persistence resulted in a three-goal lead for the Sabres minutes later. The forward's original shot on goal was turned aside behind the net. Peterka was able to find the rebound from a bad angle, and bank a shot off of Vejmelka across the goal line. His 12th goal of the season extended Buffalo's lead to 4-1.
The Coyotes were able to trim the deficit to two goals with a shorthanded goal midway through the third period. Tage Thompson had just come out of the penalty box as Michael Carcone converted a one-time chance into an open net. His 14th goal of the season made the score 4-2 in favor of Buffalo.
Rasmus Dahlin capped the scoring with an empty-net goal late in the third period. The goal was the defenseman's seventh goal of the season, and unassisted to end the night.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:25 - Kyle Okposo (5) (Eric Robinson, Connor Clifton)
ARI: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 6:14 - Eric Robinson (2) (Kyle Okposo, Connor Clifton); 10:52 - Peyton Krebs (2) (Kyle Okposo, Eric Robinson); 15:06 - JJ Peterka (12) (Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin)
ARI: 3:01 - Michael Kesserling (1) (Logan Cooley, Milos Kelemen)
Third Period:
BUF: 18:55 - Rasmus Dahlin (7) ENG (Unassisted)
ARI: 12:47 - Michael Carcone (14) SHG (Matias Maccelli, J.J. Moser)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Eric Robinson - BUF
2.) Kyle Okposo - BUF
3.) Connor Clifton - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will head out for a three-game Western Conference road trip starting Wednesday night in Denver, Colorado. The Sabres and Colorado Avalanche will drop the puck at 10 p.m. EST from Ball Arena on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol starts at 9 p.m. EST.