Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Josh Doan's goal less than a minute into the third period of Saturday’s matchup with the Nashville Predators was the difference in a 3-2 victory for the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Neither team was able to score in the first period in a low-chance and low-shot total period. Buffalo was credited with just two shots on goal, and had the only power play chance of the opening frame, but failed to record a shot on the man advantage.
The Predators had six shots on goal in the first period, in which Sabres goalie Alex Lyon stopped all of them.
Nashville was able to break the scoreless tie early in the second period, just over a minute into the frame on their first shot.
Predators winger Zachary L'Heureux was credited with his first goal in just his sixth game of the season to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Sabres center Tage Thompson was able to even the score at 1-1 later in the period with his 34th goal of the season.
Alex Tuch helped create the play on a give-and-go play with Thompson. Tuch's pass across the ice to Thompson set up the score. He received the lone assist on the game-tying goal.
Thompson has also extended his point streak to 10 games.
Just over a minute later, Buffalo took a one-goal lead. It was also goals on back-to-back shots after Jusse Saros could not handle Jack Quinn's initial shot. Jason Zucker was there to tap in his 17th goal of the season.
Quinn and Rasmus Dahlin were credited with the assists on the goals.
The Sabres wasted little time in the third period adding to their lead just 16 seconds into the final frame.
Sabres center Josh Norris made the pass that created the scoring chance for Josh Doan to convert on, as he went hard to the Nashville net. The goal was Doan's 19th of the season.
Norris and Noah Ostlund received the assists on the goal that gave Buffalo a 3-1 advantage.
Nashville was able to take advantage of a power play chance with less than five minutes left in regulation. Roman Josi used a slap shot from the blue line that went in off Matthew Wood to trim the Predators' deficit to 3-2.
It came with Quinn in the penalty box for interference.
Despite facing a late push from the Predators, the Sabres managed to hold on and secure a sixth-straight win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
NSH: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 12:39 - Tage Thompson (34) (Alex Tuch); 14:17 - Jason Zucker (17) (Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin)
NSH: 1:17 - Zachary L'Heureux (1) (Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O'Reilly)
Third Period:
BUF: 0:16 - Josh Doan (19) (Josh Norris, Noah Ostlund)
NSH: 16:08 - Matthew Wood (13) PPG (Roman Josi, Steven Stamkos)
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BlueStar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Lyon - BUF
2.) Josh Doan - BUF
3.) Tage Thompson - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres are right back at it on Sunday night, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center. The Atlantic Division showdown takes place at 6 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - starting with pregame at 5 p.m. with Brian Koziol.