Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres stretched their winning streak to five-straight games thanks to their 3-2 shootout victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Jack Quinn and Josh Norris netted the two shootout goals on David Rittich to win it, while Mathew Barzal was the only Islanders shooter able to solve Alex Lyon in five attempts.
Lyon made a huge save in overtime on a Barzal breakaway.
The Sabres played their third-straight good third period, protecting a one-goal lead until defenseman Michael Kesselring took a silly slashing penalty with 1:27 left in regulation, giving the Islanders a 6-on-4 power play.
A puck bounced out to Emil Heineman, and he converted on his 10th shot of the game at 19:31 to send it to overtime.
That penalty prevented the Sabres from taking two points and sending an Eastern Conference opponent home with nothing.
To give you an example of how well the Sabres were protecting the lead, at the 12:58 mark of the third period, they were outshooting New York, 7-1.
The Sabres got off to a fast start when captain Rasmus Dahlin went coast-to-coast, scoring a vintage Gil Perreault goal.
When they got another power play, Dahlin put a puck right in Josh Norris’ wheelhouse and he ripped a one-timer home to give the Sabres, what they thought was, a 2-0 lead.
The goal was immediately waived off, though, because Zach Benson was where he was supposed to be - in front screening the goalie. However, he did make contact, which by rule, the play was goaltender interference.
I’d like to see the rule tweaked, though. Rittich was set and ready by the time Norris shot the puck, and I think if that’s the case, it should no longer be goaltender interference.
In the second period, Tage Thompson did give his team a two-goal lead when he tucked the puck around Rittich for goals in six-consecutive games.
In the history of the franchise, the only other Sabres players to do that are Miro Satan (twice), Danny Gare and Rene Robert.
Late in the second period, Peyton Krebs committed one of the team’s few turnovers, and Barzal converted his own rebound at 19:37.
That means New York scored goals with 23 seconds left in the second period and 29 seconds left in the third.
In addition to his highlight reel goal, Dahlin played 25:52 in the game and had five shots.
Alex Tuch also had five shots and played 21:06 of ice-time.
Now the question is, who does Lindy Ruff put in goal in a back-to-back situation on Sunday in New Jersey against the Devils?
Lyon has played six games since Dec. 8, going 5-0-0 with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
Does Ruff check with him to see if he’s fatiguing, or does he go with one of his other two goalies?
If he’d like to use Colten Ellis, the Sabres would either have to put Tyson Kozak on Injured Reserve so he can be activated, or send someone back to Rochester.
Join Brian Koziol and myself for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6:45 p.m. after the Buffalo Bills game against the Cleveland Browns.
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