The Buffalo Sabres put up a great effort Saturday afternoon, behind a hat-trick from forward Tage Thompson, but the team still came up short against a high-powered Colorado Avalanche squad. Buffalo surrendered two goals in the third period en route to a 5-3 loss at KeyBank Center.
Thompson got the scoring going early with a wrist shot from the faceoff circle just 2:50 into the game. However, Colorado answered back quickly as Nathan MacKinnon tied the game 1-1 just 45 seconds later.
The scoring continued midway through the first period as J.T. Compher gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. A little less than 90 seconds later, Thompson got his second goal of the period with a great feed from Jeff Skinner to tie the game at 2-2.
However, just 20 seconds after that, Nazem Kadri gave Colorado the lead right back again, making it 3-2 at the end of the first period.
The scoring quieted down to start the second period, but Thompson then tied the game again at 3-3, completing his first-career hat-trick.
Alex Newhook gave the Avalanche the 4-3 lead midway through the third period He took advantage of the Sabres, essentially, being a man down after Rasmus Dahlin was slow to get back to his feet in the offensive zone.
With the Sabres pressing late in the game and Dustin Tokarski on the bench for the extra attacker, Mikko Rantanen scored into the empty-net to close out a 5-3 win for Colorado.
----------
GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 2:50 - Tage Thompson (17) (Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch); 12:42 - Tage Thompson (18) (Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin)
COL: 3:35 - Nathan MacKinnon (11) (Cale Makar, Devon Toews); 11:18 - J.T. Compher (9) (Nicolas Aube-Kubel); 13:02 - Nazem Kadri (21) (Valeri Nichushkin)
Second Period:
BUF: 12:54 - Tage Thompson (19) (Mattias Samuelsson)
COL: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
COL: 8:37 - Alex Newhook (11) (Mikko Rantanen); 19:08 - Mikko Rantanen (26) ENG (Unassisted)
----------
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 18:44 - Peyton Krebs (Slashing - 2 min.)
COL: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 13:40 - Mattias Samuelsson (Interference - 2 min.)
COL: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
COL: 9:11 - Erik Johnson (Tripping - 2 min.)
----------
----------
Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Nathan MacKinnon - COL
3.) Nazem Kadri - COL
----------
What's next:
The blue and gold set out on the road on Sunday to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Buffalo and Columbus drop the puck at 6 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Pat Malacaro starts at 5 p.m. EST.
