(WGR 550) – The Sabres were on the road in a back-to-back situation, but they had great energy throughout the game and broke their two-game losing streak beating the Minnesota Wild in a shootout 3-2. The loss snapped Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak.
Buffalo had many things going against it for this game. Both teams played at home on Friday meaning the Sabres had to fly to St. Paul for this game. Buffalo gave up the first goal and coming in they were 3-10-3 when the opponent scored first. Minnesota came in 11-2-2 when scoring first.
The Wild came in 12-0-2 when leading after two periods while the Sabres were 1-8-1 when trailing after two.
Colten Ellis was spectacular coming off his first NHL bad game and his only NHL bad game. I don’t think he should’ve had to have waited 10 days to get back in net, but Lindy Ruff disagrees.
Ellis had to make a huge save right off the bat when one of the best players in the NHL, Karill Kaprisov opened the game with a wraparound attempt that Ellis somehow got across the crease to make a pad save.
Buffalo held Minnesota to just three third period shots, but the first one came early when the red hot Matt Boldy was open in the slot. Not only did Ellis rob Boldy, but in overtime, Tage Thompson blew a tire behind the Minnesota net setting up a 3-on-2 the other way. Ellis was outstanding stopping Brock Faber on the rush, but Faber got the puck back, brought it in front and Ellis made another four-bell save.
The two goals Minnesota got on him were because of Boldy stealing the puck from Alex Tuch and walking in and two defensemen leaving Kaprisov alone in the right circle for an easy one.
Many would say Buffalo scored two lucky goals and were lucky to win. Yes, they did get two lucky goals, but this was a night where they made their own luck. In the first period Peyton Krebs fired a shot on Filip Gustavsson and Beck Malenstyn was right where he always is, on top of the crease. The puck hit Gustavsson, came back and hit Malenstyn and went in the net. That was the winger’s third goal in seven games.
The other was in the third period, Josh Doan using his speed to come up ice and it caused Jonas Brodin the stumble and fall. Doan had a 2-on-1 and shot the puck over the net. It hit the glass and came back with Mats Zuccarello trying to clear the puck with his glove. He accidently put it in his own net. This goal doesn’t happen if the Sabres don’t use their speed in transition that causes the fall.
Buffalo did hit two crossbars in the game, but survived that.
Both goalies had great games and surprisingly enough neither were stars. The voters were very impressed with Rasmus Dahlin and made him the first star. He didn’t have any points, but he played 28:26, had three blocked shots and four shots on goal. He was also on the ice for both Minnesota goals and neither one of the Sabres goals.
Both goalies had a pretty poor outing in the shootout. Gustavsson let in goals by Thompson, Jack Quinn and Noah Ostlund who secured the win with his first career NHL shootout. Alex Tuch missed. Two of the Wild scored and the other two either missed the net or didn’t get a shot off.
After starting the season 0-5-2 on the road, buffalo has won 2-of-3.
Buffalo is still dead last in the Eastern Conference. They’re five points behind the Montreal Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic Division and five points in back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
After having Sunday off the Sabres host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.