Sabres drop third straight in 5-2 loss to Red Wings

Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - The Red Wings rode a big first period to beat the Sabres 5-2 Friday night at KeyBank Center. Alex DeBrincat scored once and assisted on two others, while John Gibson made 28 saves in the win for Detroit.

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Detroit would take advantage of an early high sticking penalty by Josh Norris just four minutes into the game as Alex DeBrincat chipped home a rebound in front just seconds into the power play to give the Red Wings the 1-0 lead. Midway through the first it was the Detroit special teams coming through again with Logan Stanley off for interference, Lucas Raymond extended the lead to 2-0. Then later in the first it was Marco Kasper making it a 3-0 lead to cap off a dominate first period by the Red Wings.

The Sabres cut into the lead 5:35 into the second period as Peyton Krebs found Tage Thompson for a one-timer in the slot to make it 3-1. The goal would be Thompson's 400th point of his career.

Though only scoring one goal, Buffalo controlled the offensive play for most of the second period as they outshot Detroit 12-3 in the middle frame.

The possible Sabres comeback was stifled in the third period as a pair of high sticking penalties were called against Buffalo. First Rasmus Dahlin for a two minute minor and then Tage Thompson would get called for a double minor and spent four minutes in the box.

The score would remain the same until later in the third, as Jacob Bernard-Docker extended the Detroit lead to 4-1.

Buffalo would try and get back into the game late, as Rasmus Dahlin picked up a loose puck in front and flipped it over the pad of John Gibson to make it a two goal game once again.

In the final moments though, with Alex Lyon on the bench for the extra attacker, it was Patrick Kane sealing it with an empty-netter to cap off the 5-2 win for the Red Wings.

Special teams was an important piece in this game, as Detroit scored twice early with the man advantage less than ten minutes into the game. While Buffalo would go 0 for 4 on the power play in the loss.

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GAME RECAP

Scoring Summary:

First Period:

BUF: NONE

DET: 4:02 - Alex DeBrincat (36)(PPG) (Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin), 9:11 - Lucas Raymond (23)(PPG) (Moritz Seider), 16:06 - Marco Kasper (8) (Emmitt Finnie, James Van Riemsdyk)

Second Period:

BUF: 5:35 - Tage Thompson (37) (Peyton Krebs, Conor Timmins)

DET: NONE

Third Period:

BUF: 16:25 - Rasmus Dahlin (16) (Tanner Pearson, Bowen Byram)

DET: 15:46 - Jacob Bernard-Docker (1) (Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat), 18:17 - Patrick Kane (13)(ENG) (Alex DeBrincat)

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Lucas Raymond (DET)

2.) Moritz Seider (DET)

3.) John Gibson (DET)

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What's next: The Buffalo Sabres continue their homestand as they welcome the Seattle Kraken to KeyBank center Saturday evening for a 5:30 p.m. ET puck drop. Catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550 starting with the pregame at 4:30 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.