Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres lost their sixth-straight game on Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club at KeyBank Center.
Utah initially thought they had its the first goal of the game just minutes into the first period. However, a Sabres challenge for goaltender interference was successful, taking away a Nick Schmaltz goal to keep the score at 0-0.
Tyson Kozak broke the scoreless tie with his first career NHL goal, a game after having a potential first goal taken away on Thursday for goaltender interference.
Beck Malensytyn made the pass that helped create the game's first goal. Meanwhile, Western New York native Dennis Gilbert recorded his first point as a member of the Sabres with an assist on the goal, helping the team to a 1-0 first period lead.
Utah was credited with 10 shots on goal, including a late scoring chance on the penalty kill that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was able to stop. The Sabres recorded seven shots in the opening period.
Utah scored 24 seconds apart in the second period to open up a 2-1 lead over the Sabres.
Michael Kesserling was able to keep the puck in at the point, and used a shot from the point to tie the game, 1-1. Luukkonen appeared to be screened on the shot, not being able to get a clean read with where the puck was heading off the stick.
On the very next possession, Mikhail Sergachev had a wide-open net to score on thanks to Luukkonen being taken out of the play. Gilbert had shoved Utah forward Michael Carcone into Luukkonen, creating the easy scoring chance.
The Sabres found themselves trailing by a pair of goals after two periods, thanks to a Schmaltz goal that counted this time, just before the end of the second. The forward recorded his fourth goal of the season to extend Utah's lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Buffalo was credited with five shots on goal in the middle frame.
Utah was able to capitalize on a Sabres turnover in the offensive zone, as Jack McBain scored his ninth goal of the season. Logan Cooley was credited with the lone assist on the goal.
Kevin Stenlund's second goal of the season extended Utah's lead to 5-1 in the third period.
Jiri Kulich was able to score with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, trimming the deficit to three goals, 5-2. Jason Zucker and Owen Power assisted on the goal.
However, Buffalo's efforts were futile, despite putting up 13 shots on goal in the third period. Utah was credited with five shots in the final frame, and ended with the overall shot advantage in the win, 28-25.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 10:14 - Tyson Kozak (1) (Beck Malenstyn, Dennis Gilbert)
UTA: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
UTA: 3:18 - Michael Kesserling (4) (Barrett Hayton); 3:42 - Mikhail Sergachev (7) (Alex Kerfoot, Michael Carcone); 19:08 - Nick Schmaltz (4) (Michael Kesserling, Clayton Keller)
Third Period:
BUF: 17:40 - Jiri Kulich (3) (Jason Zucker, Owen Power)
UTA: 2:11 - Jack McBain (9) (Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther); 12:07 - Kevin Stenlund (2) (Olli Maatta, Alex Kerfoot)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Michael Kesserling - UTA
2.) Karel Vejmelka - UTA
3.) Nick Schmaltz - UTA
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What's next:
The Sabres' five-game homestand continues on Monday with a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST along the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. The Steve Foley Law Pregame Show with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begins at 6 p.m. EST.