Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Both the Sabres and Kraken would get early chances with the man advantage. First Seattle defenseman Adam Larsson got called for hooking and then just as that penalty expired, Alex Tuch went to the box for tripping but neither team could capitalize on the power play.
Buffalo's penalty kill got challenged again with Rasmus Dahlin off for interference midway through the first period, though moments after returning to five on five the Kraken took the 1-0 lead on a goal from Chandler Stephenson off of a turnover in the defensive zone by Bowen Byram.
The second period started with some physicality as Jamie Oleksiak challenged Logan Stanley to a fight to answer for a big hit Stanley laid on Shane Wright in the first period.
The Sabres thought they tied the game on a nice wrister by Sam Carrick, but it bounced off both posts and stayed out. Then on the next shift Bobby McMann broke in past Rasmus Dahlin along the boards and beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen short side and Seattle took the 2-0 lead.
Buffalo finally got on the board later in the second with a power play goal by Rasmus Dahlin on a point shot through traffic to cut the Kraken lead to 2-1 before the third period. The goal would be the 100th goal of Dahlin's career.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 12:42 - Chandler Stephenson (15) (Kaapo Kakko, Bobby McMann)
Second Period:
BUF: 15:55 - Rasmus Dahlin (17)(PPG) (Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn)
SEA: 13:18 - Bobby McMann (26) (Kaapo Kakko, Chandler Stephenson)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: NONE
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
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What's next: The Sabres finish up their four game homestand as they welcome the New York Islanders to KeyBank Center Tuesday night for a 7:00 p.m. ET puck drop. Catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550 starting with the pregame at 6:00 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gets start in net versus Seattle
