Sabres' road trip starts with overtime loss at Blackhawks

Chicago, IL (WGR 550) - Leading late into the third period, the Buffalo Sabres were unable to hang on to a win on Thursday night.

Visiting the Chicago Blackhawks, the blue and gold coughed up a 2-1 lead before the home side completed its comeback win in overtime, 3-2 inside the United Center.

Exactly nine-minutes into the game, the Sabres opened the scoring after keeping a broken play alive. Jack Quinn entered the Blackhawks' zone, and took an immediate hit. He was able to stick with the puck, though, and locate Josh Norris coming for support. Norris then quickly dished things off to Owen Power, whose long-range snap-shot beat goalie Spencer Knight for a 1-0 Buffalo edge.

3:22 later, Chicago responded on a powerplay. Forward Connor Bedard, stationed on the goal line off to Alex Lyon's right, located linemate Frank Nazar for a back-door tap-in. Mattias Samuelsson was lax in his net-front coverage, and the Blackhawks duo made the defenseman pay.

The blue and gold took the lead back before period's end, though, and it was thanks to cashing in on a man advantage of their own. Tage Thompson uncorked a wrist shot for his second goal in as many nights, and 12th of the season. The shot also gave Thompson sole possession of 8th-place in goal-scoring in franchise history, as he passed Miroslav Satan with No. 225.

After a scoreless, and rather pedestrian second period, Chicago dictated the pace of play to kick off the third. It was over eight legitimate minutes of a push from the Blackhawks, and they finally found the tying goal against Lyon and company. Off a point shot from defenseman Sam Rinzel, it was Nazar scoring again for the home side. His re-direction in front eluded Lyon and tied the score, 2-2 at the United Center.

Nazar's goal was the last of its kind in regulation, despite things getting dicey in the final minutes. With 1:38 to play, Blackhawks forward Andrew Mangiapane was able to split the defensive pairing of Samuelsson and Rasmus Dahlin. The latter hooked Mangiapane in an effort to stop the breakaway chance, and the captain was sent to the penalty box. The blue and gold were able to kill off the entire minor, spanning the end of regulation and the first 22-seconds of overtime.

3:12 into the extra frame, Ryan Donato dropped the curtain on the blue and gold. Some space opened up for the Blackhawks forward to skate to the slot, and made the most of the opportunity. The opportunity in question may have been a result of an ill-timed no-call on a pick play by forward Anton Frondell on Owen Power.

Nonetheless, Power and the Sabres were shooed away by officiating and the call remained the same. Buffalo started its six-game road trip on the wrong end of a 3-2 overtime decision.

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SCORING RECAP:

First Period:

BUF: 9:00 - Owen Power (3) (Josh Norris, Jack Quinn); 15:46 - Tage Thompson (12) PPG (Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin)
CHI: 12:22 - Frank Nazar (6) PPG (Connor Bedard, Roman Kantserov)

Second Period:

BUF: NONE
CHI: NONE

Third Period:

BUF: NONE
CHI: 8:22 - Frank Nazar (7) (Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore)

Overtime:

BUF: NONE
CHI: 3:12 - Ryan Donato (3) OT-GWG (Anton Frondell, Sam Rinzel)

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STATS OF THE GAME

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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Frank Nazar - CHI
2.) Ryan Donato - CHI
3.) Roman Kantserov - CHI

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What's Next:

The blue and gold travel to Dallas, Texas to visit the Stars on Saturday night, November 14. Puck drop at American Airlines Center is set for 8 p.m. ET with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call right here on the home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.