The Sabres were unable to squash their five-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, as they come up short in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.
Buffalo didn't get off on the right foot to start things off. Stars forward Michael Raffl got his stick on a shot from Radek Faksa to put Dallas up 1-0 in the first period.
It wouldn't take long for the Stars to double their lead at the start of the second period. Joe Pavelski threw a pass out to the slot, where he found a wide-open Roope Hintz, who deposited the puck behind Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson.
The Sabres finally answered midway through the period when Tage Thompson's broke down the right wing and fired a shot through the legs of goalie Jake Oettenger.
Thompson's 22nd goal of the season cut the Stars' lead in half, but it wouldn't shake Dallas. They came right back about six minutes later and took their two-goal lead right back off of Raffl's second goal of the game.
The Stars extended their lead just about halfway through the third period when Esa Lindell fired a shot from the point and Denis Gurianov was able to get the shaft of his stick on the puck. Gurianov's goal put the Stars up by a 4-1 score.
The Sabres had a little fight left in them, though. Cody Eakin was determined to get a goal against one of his former teams, as he scored Buffalo's second goal of the game.
Eakin's fourth of the season brought the Sabres back to within two, but that would be that. The Stars held on to defeat Buffalo and hand the Sabres a sixth-straight loss.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
DAL: 12:35 - Michael Raffl (5) (Radek Faksa, Miro Heiskanen)
Second Period:
BUF: 8:23 - Tage Thompson (Jeff Skinner, Mattias Samuelsson)
DAL: 6:34 - Roope Hintz (23) (Joe Pavelski, Thomas Harley); 16:16 - Michael Raffl (6) (Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov)
Third Period:
BUF: 14:02 - Cody Eakin (4) (Robert Hagg)
DAL: 8:56 - Denis Gurianov (8) (Esa Lindell, Jamie Benn)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 15:43 - Casey Fitzgerald (Holding - 2 min.)
DAL: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
DAL: 3:03 - Jacob Peterson (Holding - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 7:01 - Tage Thompson (Slashing - 2 min.); Jeff Skinner (Tripping - 2 min.)
DAL: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Michael Raffl - DAL
2.) Jacob Oettinger - DAL
3.) Thomas Harley - DAL
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What's next:
The Sabres will make a quick stop home before heading to Toronto to continue their swing of away games against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. Pregame coverage starts at 6:30 p.m. EST with Schopp and Bulldog, with opening faceoff set for 7:30 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
